199707 – Iyad – Perumka’s Experience with Electronic Interlockings

Indonesian Railway Public Corporation (PERUMKA) operates approximately 6,441 Km (1995 data) of railway lines through the country stretched throughout Java and Sumatera. 70% of total line is in Java Island. Most of the railway network in PERUMKA is still in the form of single track. Currently PERUMKA only operates approximately 172 Km of double track line comprising DKI Jakarta, Jakarta – Bogor, Jakarta – Cikampek, Bandung – Padalarang, and Surabaya Kota – Wonokromo line section. Now PERUMKA has been developing Cikampek – Cirebon line to be made double track line. In Java Island, the railway networks are formed connecting two metropolises, Jakarta on the west and Surabaya on the east, being approximately 826 Km apart with other branch routes.

Passenger trains are operated linking major cities in Java, serving as intermediate and long distance transport. Commuter trains are operated in and around Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya. The Bandung Express connecting Jakarta and Bandung is operated as highest priority train on the profitable Bandung Line. Between Jakarta and Surabaya, passenger trains are mainly operated on the South Line with freight trains on the North Line.

In Sumatera, the railway network is stretched over three Exploration regions that have not yet been integrated. These are: South Sumatera, West Sumatera, and North Sumatera. Most of the railway network in Sumatera is single track, similar to Java. A general overview of railway network in Sumatera follows.

The majority of the railway network in Indonesia is an inheritance from Netherlands colonial period. It consists of narrow gauge rails at 1,067 mm and uses three kinds of sleeper; wooden sleepers, steel sleepers and concrete sleepers. Train detection systems are matched to suit the various types of sleepers used. Railway sections using the wooden sleepers and concrete sleepers utilise 5 Vdc track circuits, and railway sections using steel sleeper rely on axle counters for train detection. The other characteristic of the railway network in Indonesia is the turnouts, mainlines are generally tangential 1:10 and 1:12. The 1:10 allow for train movements up to 30 Km/hour and the 1:12 can be passed by train at 40 Km/hour speed.