Railway service in Bali

The chief of Bali's Tourism Transport Association considers a Scheduled Rail Service that would help solve a Multitude of traffic problems in Bali. 

 

The chief of the Bali Tourism Transport Association (PAWIBA), Bagus Soediana, told Bisnis Bali on Thursday, April 28, 2011, that a fixed schedule railway  service traversing the island would be helpful to reduce traffic congestion  and population pressures.

A fast, efficient and affordable train service would, according to Soediana, have many benefits for Bali. The use of private vehicles and the pollution they cause would be reduced as visitors and residents alike opting to use the faster and more affordable alternative of travel by train.

Soediana also suggested that a regular train service could offer different classes of service and separate cars for the transport of cargo. In this way, trucks arriving at Bali's two main sea ports could discharge the cargo at the ports for transfer to trains in order to reduce truck traffic in Bali.

Another advantage offered by a regular railway service would be the mobility and such a system would offer to Balinese who would be able to dwell  in north Bali while  working in South Bali's tourism centers. 

 Governor I Made Mangku Pastika has been driving his pet train project again, this time telling the Jakarta media his vision for a “slow train” service around the island is much more than just a road traffic management plan.

He repeated his message that it is an important asset for Bali’s tourism in its own right.

Pastika said he believed that once the railway was built , tourism packages including rail travel would be easy to sell, saying one-day tours could be created.

“The train will stop at selected points where there are local tourism sites and attractions,” he said.

The governor also returned to the cost-cutting theme, repeating his idea that road easements could be used for the 565 kilometre round-island track, reducing land acquisitions costs.

“The aspect of land acquisition is not significant,” he said.

Pastika told his Jakarta audience the proposed railway was winning widespread public support from the Balinese, particularly in the north, which had not been able to join in the tourist boom because of poor road infrastructure.

The provincial government envisages an intermodal system connecting Ngurah Rai International Airport, sea ports, bus stations and tourism attractions. It says it will be in operation in 2015.

Pastika’s comments came at the signing of the memorandum of understanding covering the new rail system late last month.