Indonesian Railway Update: Domestic EMUs in Jakarta

EMU KRL Jabodetabek KFW I-9000 series stands at Jati Negara Station in Indonesia
Photo: Faris Fadhli

I have received news from an Indonesian rail fan. A domestically-manufactured EMU has been launched in Jakarta. My thanks go to Mr. Faris Fadhli, who kindly sent me the photo.

Look at the top picture. It is the type KFW I-9000, manufactured by PT INKA, Indonesian Railway Industries this year. It is an air conditioned 4-car narrow gauge EMU. The VVVF (variable frequency drive) electric control system with induction motors is equipped technically assisted by Siemens. A total of four sets, 16 units have been manufactured so far. The European style (?) rounded stainless steel body is quite unique. The ten rounded front lights are also eye-catching... but what for?

When I was stationed in Indonesia from 2007 to 2011, I often rode Indonesia's first domestically-produced EMU, namely the type KRL-1 (see the following photo). It was also produced by INKA, using European railway technologies. The KFW I-9000 is the second domestic EMU in Indonesia.

Recently, the railway operator, KRL Jabodetabek (Jakarta Metropolitan Electric Commuter Railway, a subsidiary of Indonesian National Railway, PT KAI), is pursuing modernization of the line. For example, all non-air conditioned trains have been taken off the route. Instead, they are importing air conditioned secondhand EMUs from Japan, such as the Tokyo Metro 6000 series and the JR East 205 series.

I wish Jakarta further success in the modernization of its railways, as improvements of public transportation, specifically railway networks, are essential for this growing giant city.
 

EMU KRL Jabodetabek KRL-1 series stands at Tanjung Priok Station in Indonesia (April, 2009)

EMU 485 Series: Senior of the Hitachi Alumni Meeting

KuRoHa481-1028 of the EMU JR East 485 series is exhibited in Uchihara Rail Yard

One of the features of the Mito Railway Communication Day event was that Uchihara Rail Yard became the venue of the "Hitachi Alumni Meeting" on the Joban Line. It means that previous and present trains for limited express, Hitachi, were brought together at the festival site.

The senior train was the EMU 485 series, which was operated from 1972 to 1998 as the first generation EMU of limited express, Hitachi. The 485 series was launched in 1968 as an AC-DC dual electric system train on the Japanese National Railways (JNR). It was able to be operated on both 50Hz (eastern part of Japan) and 60Hz (western part of Japan) sections of AC system tracks. Plenty of units were manufactured from 1968 to 1979 by Tokyu Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo, Kisha Kaisha, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi (not a train, but a company name).

The body of the exhibited train is frequently called "JNR limited express color". Although JNR was split into seven railway companies and privatized as JR Group in 1987, many rail fans are still boosterish about this coloring, as it fits into any kind of scenery in Japan from urban business centers to mountain forests. For your information, the exhibited train was set number K1 that came the all way from Niigata Rail Yard for this festival.

Currently, the K1 is operated as limited express train, "Hokuetsu", which connects Niigata and Kanazawa along the Sea of Japan.

The third generation (left) and the first generation (right) Hitachi limited express trains

EF510-510: Superstar EL on the Northern Track

Electric locomotive EF510-510 is exhibited in Uchihara Rail Yard near Uchihara Station

 

One of the eye-catching exhibits at the festival site of Mito Railway Communication Day was an electric locomotive (EL), unit number 510 of the type JR East EF510 (EF510-510). Along with EF510-509, this EL was manufactured in 2010 by Mitsubishi Electric and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Currently, it belongs to Tabata Operation Office (Tabata Rail Yard) in Tokyo.

Type EF510 is an AC-DC dual current narrow gauge EL operated by JR Freight and JR East. It debuted in 2002 to replace the old EL, type EF81. The EF510 is a Bo-Bo-Bo (UIC notation) type EL that has six 565kW traction motors. IGBT-VVVF (variable frequency drive) is adopted as an electric control system. The nickname is "Eco-power Red Thunder".

The main assignment of EF510-510 is to pull an overnight sleeper train, "Cassiopeia". As I mentioned before, Cassiopeia is the most reputable sleeper train in Japan. Connecting Ueno and Sapporo, it is directly operated from the Tokyo metropolitan area to the northern island of Japan, namely Hokkaido, passing through the 53.85-kilometer-long Seikan Submarine Tunnel. It takes about 17 hours to get to Sapporo from Ueno.

For that purpose, EF510-510 has a silver metallic body, which coordinates with Cassiopeia passenger coaches, namely the E26 series. It was sparkling in the late autumn morning sun in Uchihara Rail Yard... very beautiful. A meteor-like yellow star on the side of the body also provides a good snap for rail fans.

EF510-510... it is a superstar EL on the northern track.
 

Front view of the electric locomotive EF510-510

Great Success of Mito Railway Communication Day

Several trains are exhibited in Uchihara Rail Yard near Uchihara Station on the Joban Line

 

Following the Takasaki Railway Communication Day, the other unique railway festival was held in the Tokyo metropolitan area last weekend. It was "Mito Tetsudo Fureai Day (Mito Railway Communication Day)", held by the Mito Regional Office of JR East. The site was Uchihara Rail Yard near Uchihara Station on the Joban Line. Four sets of EMUs, one electric locomotive and several maintenance vehicles were exhibited to be open to the public.

At the entrance of the site, I saw that the members of Mito Railway Children Association (Mito-RCA) were handing out flyers for the event. Dressed in matching uniforms, they were lovely and polite. At the site, I saw plenty of rail fans, families and couples, shooting photos, taking a tour of the cockpits of the EMUs and so on. A mini train pulled by a mini steam locomotive was also very popular among the children.

The visitors could also enjoy shopping for delicious lunch-boxes and cakes made with local foodstuffs. I enjoyed a bowl of hot noodles served by local chefs for a reasonable price. They were handmade "soba noodles (buckwheat noodles)"... very delicious.

I am truly grateful to JR East Mito Regional Office and other staff such as Mito-RCA members, local chefs and shopkeepers to have held this special event. The festival was indeed a great success. I will introduce several trains being exhibited at this event from next time. To be continued...
 

A mini train is operated at the festival site

Tama Zoo Train on the Keio Line

7801F of the EMU Keio 7000 series, "Tama Zoo Train" arrives at Takahata-fudo Station

 

On the way to Keio Rail Land a couple of weeks ago, I saw a special poster train on the Keio Line. Look at the photo. It is set number 7801 (7801F) of the EMU 7000 series, "Tama Zoo Train", arriving at Takahata-fudo Station.

The 7000 series debuted in 1984 to enhance transportation capacity on the Keio Line. A total of 190 units have been manufactured for 12 years by Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Sharyo. A field chopper control system was adopted originally. It was later changed to the VVVF (variable frequency drive) system with induction motors, as part of a renovation project.

Tama Zoo train (7801F) was manufactured in 1993 by Tokyo Sharyo. It is a 4-car poster train to transport sightseers to Tama Zoo on the Keio-Dobutsuen Line (the Keio-Zoo Line). You can see various animal stickers on the body. They are lions, tigers, koalas, giraffes, monkeys and so on. It is popular among children on the line.

The Keio-zoo line is a feeder route of the Keio Main Line. It was opened in 1960. Connecting Takahata-fudo and Tama-dobutsukoen-mae (Tama Zoological Park) stations, the line length is 2km only.

Tama Zoo train runs without a conductor on board because the Keio-zoo Line normally has fewer passengers than the main line; but, on weekends, 10-car express trains with conductors on board are directly operated into this feeder route from Shinjuku Terminal to transport holidaymakers.
 

Side view of the Tama Zoo Train