Monday, October 2, 2023

High-Speed Train Project Suspended after Deadly Accident

BTV
December 19, 2022 | 7:31 pm
SHARE
Workers evacuate the wreckage of rail track maintenance trains in Padalarang, West Java, on December 19, 2022. The trains overshot the unfinished railway of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project a day earlier. (Antara photo/Raisan Al Farisi)
Workers evacuate the wreckage of rail track maintenance trains in Padalarang, West Java, on December 19, 2022. The trains overshot the unfinished railway of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project a day earlier. (Antara photo/Raisan Al Farisi)

Jakarta. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project co-funded by Chinese investors was suspended after a rail track maintenance train derailed in West Java and killed two Chinese workers on Sunday.

A maintenance train belonging to Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) -- the consortium which runs the project -- was speeding on the half-finished track before it overturned in the West Java town of Padalarang on Sunday evening.

"We are investigating why the train overshot the unfinished rail track," Transportation Ministry's railway safety director Edi Nursalam told BTV news broadcaster at the scene.

At least five people were injured in the accident.

Advertisement

The Transportation Ministry suspended the project to allow a full investigation into the case, the ministry's spokeswoman Adita Irawati said in a statement.

"After the investigation is concluded, the findings will be submitted upon which recommendations will be made to boost the safety aspects in railway construction," Adita said.

The National Police said at least 18 witnesses have been questioned in relation to the accident, which occurred only a month after President Joko Widodo and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping checked the progress of Indonesia's first high-speed train project via video conference during their meeting in Bali.

"The focus of the investigation is to determine the cause of the accident and it will involve experts from the KNKT (National Transportation Safety Committee) and the railway company, and if necessary we will [interrogate] representatives of the train supplier," police spokesman Insp. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo told reporters in Jakarta.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

POPULAR READS


Lifestyle 3 hours ago

Government Grants Operational License to Bullet Train

The train operates along a dedicated railway spanning 142.3 kilometers and is integrated into the commuter system in Bandung and Jakarta.
News 3 hours ago

'Bring it on': McCarthy Responds to Gaetz’s Threat to Oust Him

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said she would vote to oust McCarthy as speaker if such a vote occurs.
Special Updates 3 hours ago

Pertamina Recovers Rp 850b Land Assets in East Java

The assets which Pertamina has just recovered lie in the East Javan ward of Gunungsari, and span about 583,131 square meters. 
Special Updates 4 hours ago

Pertamina, LKPP Ink Agreement on E-Catalog

Pertamina says it is the first state-owned enterprise to implement LKPP's e-catalog app.
Special Updates 5 hours ago

Pertamina Installs Solar Power for Merbabu Asih

This project is part of the so-called Energy Self-Sufficient Village (Desa Energi Berdikari) program.
COPYRIGHT © 2023 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED