The revitalization of the Greater Jakarta commuter rail service is targeted for completion by 2010 at a total cost to the state budget of Rp 5.8 trillion (US$577 million), rail authorities said during an international academic seminar Tuesday.

The revitalization, to serve Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek), would concentrate on increasing the capacity of the light rail system which shares infrastructure with the national rail system.

"We will increase capacity mainly by improving stations so passengers can more easily board and alight from trains," said Wendy Aritenang, head of the national railway revitalization team of the directorate general of trains within the Transportation Ministry.

He spoke on the sidelines of a Franco-Indonesian seminar on bettering Indonesian railways sponsored by the civil engineering faculty of the University of Indonesia.

In August PT Kereta Api Jabodetabek (KAJ) was spun off from the state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api.

The division has conducted a series of evictions this year to improve its services as well as security for passengers; illegal dwellings are currently crowding some 16 kilometers of track in Central, North and West Jakarta.

The 150 kilometers of existing Greater Jakarta track -- which include the circuit line, the Bekasi-Jatinegara, Bogor-Kota, Tanah Abang-Serpong, Tangerang-Duri and Tanjung Priok-Kota lines -- carry more than 1.28 million passengers per year, as recorded in their ticket sales.

KAJ commissioner Farid Harianto pointed to Jabodetabek railway's marginal role though it purportedly carries 70 percent of the nationwide rail passenger load.

"That figure constitutes less than 4 percent of daily public transportation passengers, and only a scant 1.3 percent of all mobility within Greater Jakarta," Farid said, adding the Jabodetabek railway still offered inferior service in terms of safety, convenience and punctuality.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said previously the public transportation system in Greater Jakarta must be integrated with the light rail network.

To recast trains as the backbone of public transportation in Greater Jakarta, Farid said KAJ aimed to increase its scant 4 percent market share to 20 percent, to serve 2.1 million passengers by 2011 instead of the 400,000 daily passengers as recorded last year.

Farid also acknowledged complex challenges the Greater Jakarta rail system faces: meager investment and neglected infrastructure dating from the pre-independence era.

"The challenges include weak coordination between stakeholders as well as weak institutional capacity within the rail company's human resources," he said.

However, he also pointed out several strong fundamentals supporting the revitalization of commuter rails, including an annual 9 to 10 percent growth in demand from passengers.

"The government allocation of 5.8 trillion from 2008 to 2010 shows strong support from the central government. Local administrations, including Jakarta, Banten and West Java, are also keen to support this effort," Farid said.

Farid said the private sector could also play a role. That sector could invest in certain routes which cater to higher end services. An initial public offering is also a possible step, he said.

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