Kereta Api Experiencing Difficulty in Entering Garahan Tunnel During Trial Run
A viral video on social media showed a train having trouble fitting into the Garahan Tunnel in Jember, East Java. This incident is part of the trial run for a new type of train called Stainless Steel New Generation (SSNG). The EVP of Corporate Secretary for PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Raden Agus Dwinanto Budiadji, explained that this trial run was planned to evaluate safety aspects at critical points along the Jember-Banyuwangi railway line, including tunnels and bridges.
The trial run consists of static and dynamic phases. The viral video captured a dynamic test where the train slowly moved, measuring the clearance space particularly in the tunnel area. KAI recognizes that the new SSNG train has larger dimensions compared to existing trains and the Garahan Tunnel is smaller than other tunnels.
Similar tests will be conducted at the Sasak Tunnel in Daop 2 Bandung, which is slightly larger than the Garahan Tunnel. The SSNG train is already operating in other tunnels without the need for trials, such as the Ijo Tunnel in Daop 5 Purwokerto.
Agus mentioned that previous tests on a freight train at the Garahan Tunnel had to be adjusted due to safety concerns. The SSNG train has slight height differences with the previous Stainless Steel series but overall meets safety specifications. Testing is essential to ensure safe operations and compliance with safety regulations.
The focus is on ensuring operational safety and meeting existing infrastructure requirements. This meticulous testing is crucial to guarantee safe train operations.
