Indonesia: BRR to act on rebuilding colonial era Medan to Banda Aceh railway (pic)
November 7th 2006 02:44
Tsunami survivor: Banda Aceh's railway station converted to a university building
BRR, Indonesia's Bureau of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation for Aceh and Nias, has listed the restoration of a Dutch colonial railway among its planned major projects, saying trains will be commissioned for carrying the large, ongoing freight in reconstruction materials.
The ball is now in the court of the government in Jakarta, which sees the rail link as a way of strengthening ties between the formerly restive province and the rest of the Indonesian archipelago.
The 600km route of a Dutch colonial era railway between Medan and Banda Aceh dis-used since the 1970s is under examination. Built in 1876, it's very narrow 0.7m gauge could be replaced with 1.435m, for trains running 50pc faster than the 80kph original design speed. At its peak before World War II, the railway carried 9,000 people and 500 tons freight daily.
Making these recommendations is French railway operator SNCF, which Indonesia's Government commissioned in 1994 to conduct a pre-feasibility study on restoring the line. Following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that devastated Aceh province, SNCF made the study free of charge.
"We deeply hope that this project becomes a reality," said SNCF International's chairperson Jean-Pierre Loubinoux.
Experts started looking at the condition of the track and its many old steel bridges along the west coast route from Banda Aceh, through Sigli, Bireuen and Lhokseumawe and onto Medan across the border south into North Sumatra province.
Among their observations for a replacement railway:
. Special measures will need to be taken in highly populated areas, where the train driver once used to simply honk a horn to warn of the train's approach.
. Technicians and engineers have been found who were involved with the trains in the 1970s.
. Converted railways stations are among numerous houses build along the route and sections of the old track are smothered with asphalt for use as narrow roads.
AFP source
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Comment by Nina
Comment by Chantal
Very informative piece!
Comment by Big Cat
Chatterpillar
You may also be interested in today's posting "Why Acehnese still wait for houses two years after the tsunami disaster".