PT INKA goes on building KRDs despite crisis

Palembang (ANTARA News) - President Director of state railway company PT INKA Roos Diatmoko said despite the current global economic crisis, the company is still building diesel trains (KRDs). 

"This year, the company is building five sets of diesel trains for operation in Sumatra and Java," he said on board the Kertalaya travelling from Inderalaya to Palembang after the train was dedicated by the Transportation Minister on Thursday. 

He said one such diesel train, including four coaches, would cost Rp 30 billion, and takes eight months to build. 

Right now, he added, his side is also preparing 10 sets of KRDs under an order for production in 2010. 

He said PT INKA not only built KRDs since 1987, but elecric trains (KRLs) as well. Most of the KRLs are now operating on Java island, he added. 

Roos also disclosed that PT INKA is also producing light trains, called railbuses, a combination of city buses and railway trains. 

The very first railbus was operated on the Palembang-Inderalaya route for students and ordinary passengers, he said. 

Since 1987 PT INKA produced 160 sets of KRDs and 40 sets of KRLs. 

In the manufacture of the first railbus, the company needed up to two years at a total cost of Rp15 billion per set, comprising three coaches with a capacity of 227 passengers, including those standing, he said.