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Neither BRT nor LRT: Indonesia looks to rail-based bus system for traffic solutions
The O-Bahn bus system was created in Essen, Germany, and variations of it are currently being used in cities around the world, most notably Adelaide, Australia.
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Traffic congestion builds up on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, in the afternoon. (The Jakarta Post/Wendra Ajistyatama)
T
he government is considering introducing a rail-based bus transportation system to help reduce traffic congestion in several major cities across the country.
The bus system, known as the O-Bahn, was created in Essen, Germany, and variations of it are currently being used in cities around the world, most notably Adelaide, Australia.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi recently raised the idea of adopting the O-Bahn busway system as an alternative form of mass transportation in urban areas.
“The ministry has come up with O-Bahn bus system in response to President Jokowi’s request to overcome congestion problems in big cities,” he said on Sunday.
Different from the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which uses roads, and the LRT system, which uses rails, the O-Bahn system uses buses equipped with small guide wheels on the front as they have to run on rail tracks.
The ministry’s railway transportation director general, Zulfikri, said the special rails allowed O-Bahn buses to run much faster than regular buses on public roads.
“Transjakarta buses, for example, run at a speed of only about 35 kilometers per hour. O-Bahn buses will be able to go 60 to 80 kilometers per hour on their special rails,” he said.
