Transportation issue had become a major concern not only in modern days Jakarta but also in the era of ‘oud Batavia’. The Dutch government during the beginning of the 20th century designed 2 modes of mass land transportation, namely the train and tram to cater for the city’s transportation needs, and, guess what, the route of the intercity “trainway” and “tramway” is quite the same as the route of today’s “busway”, the latest mass land transportation mode designed by ex-Jakarta Governor, Sutiyoso.
Transportation issue had become a major concern not only in modern days Jakarta but also in the era of ‘oud Batavia’.
The Dutch government during the beginning of the 20th century designed 2 modes of mass land transportation, namely the train and tram to cater for the city’s transportation needs, and, guess what, the route of the intercity “trainway” and “tramway” is quite the same as the route of today’s “busway”, the latest mass land transportation mode designed by ex-Jakarta Governor, Sutiyoso.
Bataviasche Ooster Spoor (BOS)
From its office in Pintu Besar road near Javasche Bank (now Bank Indonesia), this company operate steam train whose route start from Kota – Tandjong Priok- Kemayoran - Meester Cornelis. The train was sometimes called as Beos which come from the word BOS, that is, the abbreviation of this company’s name. The area surrounding the locations of this company’s office was still called Beos until today.
Ned Indische Spoorwagen (NIS)
This company operate route from Kota –Pegangsaan – Meester Kornelis – Pasar Minggu - Bogor, Kota – Kampung Duri – Tangerang and Kota – Kampung Duri – Serang.
During the early operation of the train, many people in particularly non European people died when they were carelessly crossing the train track
Steam Tram
It was Martinus Petrus Pels who pioneering the establishment of Batavia Tramway through the formation of his company ‘Tramway Maatschapij’. In December 1867, the license to start the project was granted by the Dutch government and in September 1868, there land a ship carrying materials needed to lay the track of the tram. In 20th April 1869 the first tram begins to travel through the street of Batavia.
The Tram was originally pulled by 4 horses; the capacity of the tram was to carry 38 passengers. The fee was 10 cent per person which is quite cheap at the time. The trams passed every 5 minutes and operate from 5 AM in the morning to 8 PM in the evening.
To cater for the need of mass transportation, more power than could be given by 4 horses was needed. The first steam tram was operated during the 1890’s. The route started from Pintu Besar – West Molenvliet - Harmonie, Tanah Lapang Singa - Kramat - Meester Cornelis. There was also route from Harmonie to Tanah Abang, but later on, the route was taken over by the electric tram, as the steam tram often had not enough power to pull the tram up trough the steeply area of Tanah Abang.
Electric Tram
The operation of steam tram lead to the discovery of a more sophisticated tram, namely the Electric Tram. As the name suggest, this tram was powered by electricity. The route was started from Javasche Bank (now Bank Indonesia, Pintu Besar) – Gunung Sahari – Senen – Kebon Sirih – Tanah Abang. This electric tram can surely carry more passenger compare to steam tram.
What’s Left Today
The traces of tramway track from the Dutch era can no longer be seen today except for small fragment of track which is still lay today in Kota Train Station. We can only dig the memory from old pictures kept in the library. It is a pity that Jakarta Government does not give much interest in the conservation of this transportation artifact.
However, based on the articles written by Prof Dr. Mundardjito (Kota Tua Batavia : Masalah Perlindungan), recently there was an excavation work carried out by Jakarta Tourism Office in front of Fatahillah Museum to dig whatever is left from the once tramway track surrounding the area. The work was successful; the excavation team discovered two wooden tram tracks in its original context. Along with this discovery, the team also found various ceramic fragments from many countries.
This effort is hopefully can be followed by another conservation effort, so that Jakarta citizen can lean that even before the era of busway, there already was tramway. It is a fact that the transportation services during the time were quite impressive. The schedule was mostly on time and the passenger does not have to wait for too long before the trains or trams come to take them to their destination. It is a great hope that someday, Jakarta modern day’s Busway can give a prompt, comfortable transportation service as that enjoyed by the Batavian more than 100 years ago.
From various sources
Photograph : Collection of Leiden University
Transportation issue had become a major concern not only in modern days Jakarta but also in the era of ‘oud Batavia’.
The Dutch government during the beginning of the 20th century designed 2 modes of mass land transportation, namely the train and tram to cater for the city’s transportation needs, and, guess what, the route of the intercity “trainway” and “tramway” is quite the same as the route of today’s “busway”, the latest mass land transportation mode designed by ex-Jakarta Governor, Sutiyoso.
Bataviasche Ooster Spoor (BOS)
From its office in Pintu Besar road near Javasche Bank (now Bank Indonesia), this company operate steam train whose route start from Kota – Tandjong Priok- Kemayoran - Meester Cornelis. The train was sometimes called as Beos which come from the word BOS, that is, the abbreviation of this company’s name. The area surrounding the locations of this company’s office was still called Beos until today.
Ned Indische Spoorwagen (NIS)
This company operate route from Kota –Pegangsaan – Meester Kornelis – Pasar Minggu - Bogor, Kota – Kampung Duri – Tangerang and Kota – Kampung Duri – Serang.
During the early operation of the train, many people in particularly non European people died when they were carelessly crossing the train track
Steam Tram
It was Martinus Petrus Pels who pioneering the establishment of Batavia Tramway through the formation of his company ‘Tramway Maatschapij’. In December 1867, the license to start the project was granted by the Dutch government and in September 1868, there land a ship carrying materials needed to lay the track of the tram. In 20th April 1869 the first tram begins to travel through the street of Batavia.
The Tram was originally pulled by 4 horses; the capacity of the tram was to carry 38 passengers. The fee was 10 cent per person which is quite cheap at the time. The trams passed every 5 minutes and operate from 5 AM in the morning to 8 PM in the evening.
To cater for the need of mass transportation, more power than could be given by 4 horses was needed. The first steam tram was operated during the 1890’s. The route started from Pintu Besar – West Molenvliet - Harmonie, Tanah Lapang Singa - Kramat - Meester Cornelis. There was also route from Harmonie to Tanah Abang, but later on, the route was taken over by the electric tram, as the steam tram often had not enough power to pull the tram up trough the steeply area of Tanah Abang.
Electric Tram
The operation of steam tram lead to the discovery of a more sophisticated tram, namely the Electric Tram. As the name suggest, this tram was powered by electricity. The route was started from Javasche Bank (now Bank Indonesia, Pintu Besar) – Gunung Sahari – Senen – Kebon Sirih – Tanah Abang. This electric tram can surely carry more passenger compare to steam tram.
What’s Left Today
The traces of tramway track from the Dutch era can no longer be seen today except for small fragment of track which is still lay today in Kota Train Station. We can only dig the memory from old pictures kept in the library. It is a pity that Jakarta Government does not give much interest in the conservation of this transportation artifact.
However, based on the articles written by Prof Dr. Mundardjito (Kota Tua Batavia : Masalah Perlindungan), recently there was an excavation work carried out by Jakarta Tourism Office in front of Fatahillah Museum to dig whatever is left from the once tramway track surrounding the area. The work was successful; the excavation team discovered two wooden tram tracks in its original context. Along with this discovery, the team also found various ceramic fragments from many countries.
This effort is hopefully can be followed by another conservation effort, so that Jakarta citizen can lean that even before the era of busway, there already was tramway. It is a fact that the transportation services during the time were quite impressive. The schedule was mostly on time and the passenger does not have to wait for too long before the trains or trams come to take them to their destination. It is a great hope that someday, Jakarta modern day’s Busway can give a prompt, comfortable transportation service as that enjoyed by the Batavian more than 100 years ago.
From various sources
Photograph : Collection of Leiden University
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