Train company loss Rp 1 billion after hooligans' havoc

State railway company PT KA said it had lost more than Rp 1 billion (US$107,000) due to damage and unpaid tickets following the havoc caused by supporters of the Persebaya Surabaya soccer club onboard the train on their way to and from their team's match in Bandung.

Adi Suryatmini, a spokesman for the company, told kompas.com in Bandung, West Java, there was about Rp 750 million worth of damage done to coaches and losses from unpaid tickets amounted to around Rp 250 million.

Another PT KA spokesman, Bambang Setyo Prayitno, said earlier that around 4,500 Persebaya fans had traveled to Saturday’s match by train from Surabaya – without paying the Rp 38,000 fare.

On their way to Bandung, the fans had hurled rocks at residents of the Central Java town of Surakarta. This, however, backfired, as on the return journey to Surabaya, they were roundly stoned by angry Surakarta residents.

Surakarta residents hurled rocks at all trains traveling from Bandung, damaging windows and seats.

Adi said the company's facilities alongside the railway track the supporters traveled on had also suffered damage. The company is still taking stock of the damage and will report it to the Surabaya City administration.

“The Surabaya mayor has guaranteed compensation [for the damage],” he said.