In Cicalengka-Bandung Train
By Rie Yanti
The economy class train is always an opera to me. Many things to see here. And this is a characteristic of Indonesian trains, I think. I used to go from Cicalengka Town to Bandung City, and vice versa. From Cicalengka Station, I take the economy train called KRD Ekonomi. The ticket costs 1,000 IDR from Cicalengka to Ciroyom Station (a small station after Bandung Station), or 1,500 IDR from Cicalengka to Padalarang. It’s very cheap, but the train will stops at every small stations.
Inside the train, many passengers had taken their own seat at Haurpugur Station (a small station before Cicalengka). So I had to stand up that day. Fortunately, there was always kind person who offered me his seat. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman. So I could sit, thanks to that universal gentlemanliness.
Oh, I forgot to mention two types of seat in economy class. First type sticks along the wall of the train. Thus the passengers turn the back on the window. By sitting this way, you can see all kind of passenger’s activities: reading, chatting, watching other people like I always do.
See the merchants selling beverage (mineral waters, coffees, soft drinks), food (fruits, tahu sumedang, wingko, nuts, salted egg), accessories, newspapers, books, toys, tissues, SIM card, etc. Meanwhile, the beggars were begging for money. He would pray for you after received money from you.
Second type, the seat that is face to face like in the executive class train. Here you still see, hear and smell the noisy merchants. But at least you can enjoy the panorama outside. I always noticed, there is green rice field on the side way to Bandung. In harvest time, the field becomes beautifully gold. Also the farmers harvesting. The hill, the mountain as a background. And the air! Just open the window and inhale deeply. So refreshing.
After more than an hour, I finally arrived at Bandung Station. Welcome, metropolitan life. In this fashion city, I used to visit Gramedia bookstore, CCF (French Cultural Centre), Tobucil, PSS (Sundanese Study Centre), Palasari, or Dewi Sartika book fair. Then go home at midday.
Once, I visited PSS and Palasari until 14.30. So I had to chase the 15.30 train. I didn’t take economy class anymore. I went by “patas” train.
Just like its name, “patas” (cepat-terbatas) is fast and limited. It takes less than an hour to reach Bandung from Cicalengka, and vice versa. The ticket is more expensive. But surely it’s more comfortable. There is no such merchant or beggar in patas train. Only “Reska” (Restoran Kereta Api): two men who officially sell bread, soft drink, and instant noodles.
Since 2009, there has been a new kind of patas train: Baraya Geulis and Rencang Geulis (in Sundanese, baraya means family, rencang means friend, geulis means beautiful). They stop at four stations only: Cicalengka, Rancaekek, Bandung, and Padalarang. The ticket for Bandung-Cicalengka costs 5,000 IDR, and for Cicalengka-Padalarang 8,000 IDR. The seat sticks along the wall and there are hooks on the ceiling for standing passengers.
At Rancaekek Station, a lot of passengers descended. How releasing. Since then, I could sleep whenever I wanted and got tired. While the train kept on working hard. Everyday. Almost non stop. Regardless its tiredness. [photo by Rie]
Thanks, interesting information.
Whoa, so you’re a commuter, Rie? I never know, in this 1001 motorcycles country, why don’t you ride? But yeah, me myself, I have a dream to go anywhere by public transportation or bicycle, even if I have my own car. To reduce the pollution, to reduce the traffic density, to be healthy, to be more socialize. It’s gonna be fun
. Someday, when the public transportations system in Indonesia is much more improved.
Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Moran
wah… belum pernah ke cicalengka. info yang menarik
kisanak´s last blog ..Membuka dua akun Gmail dengan browser Mozilla Firefox
kaya di cirebon… hehe
@ Claude & Chris Moran
Thank’s
@Brahm
I’ve had learnt driving a car, Brahm. But i was always afraid to drive so i never use my car (honestly, it belongs to my mom hehehe). And now the license is expired. But it’s funny to go by public transportation. I can enjoy the trip, the view, meet many kinds of people, and… i can sleep when i’m tired.
@kisanak
Belum pernah? Nggak gaul banget sih hehehe. Emang kamu domisili di mana?
@ariez
Suka naik kereta juga ya? Main atuh ke Bandung.
Meski penuh sesak, naik kereta api memang terasa lebih lega.
Itu yang saya suka kalau naik kereta api.
Sayang tidak ada kereta jurusan Purwokerto-Bandung, harus ke Korea dulu dan naik dari sana…
oke, oke bukan Korea…Kroya – Cilacap
Pradna´s last blog ..Taiko and Shogun Total War
@mba rie: kemaren saya baru kebandung…
hehe
@pradna
Pradna, Pradna *gelengeleng*
Kalo dari Cilacap bisa disambung ke Bandung nggak? Hehehe, maksa ya.
@ariez
Ha? Kok baru bilang? Lain kali bilang dulu, kan ntar bisa janjian.
rie´s last blog ..In Cicalengka-Bandung Train
hehe..
mba masih kliah ga?
di daerah mana mba??
saya kir amba orang jogja
eh..salah nulis, saya
maksudnya Kroya, kecamatan Cilacap.
Nah iya, kl mo ke Bandung dari purwokerto naik kereta api kudu ke Kroya heula, ceu..
Pradna´s last blog ..Obrolan Sore 10 : Tamu dari Rumah Kayu
@Ariez
Kuliah. Kuliah tiap hari, ujian tiap hari, nggak tau kapan lulusnya hehehe…
Aku di Cicalengka. Deket2 Bandunglah. Kok Jogja?
@Pradna
Wah, merepotkan sekali, Mas… Hehehe…
Dulu mah sering naek KRD teh. Selain cerita tentang desak-desakkan dan bau-bauan, di KRD Cicalengka-Bandung juga banyak cerita unik yang pernah saya alami. Misalnya ibu-ibu yang nangis dengan volume suara yang terdengar oleh penumpang segerbong. Kenapa dia? tidak tau saya. Juga orang gila yang mondar mandir sambil terus-terusan ngomong kasar dan jorok dan bau. Orang gila yang ini mah langganan KRD. Biasanya turun di stasion haurpugur.
Dan cerita-cerita lainnya.
Oiya, Teh Rie saya juga dari Cicalengka, tepatnya Nagreg. Secara adimistratif memang beda, tapi masih satu kawasan dan satu jalur angkot. Cicalengkanya di mana teh ?
Hai, urang CIcalengka hehehe
Nggak pernah tuh denger ibu2 nangis sampe menyaingi suaranya Mariah Carey. Kalo orgil mah emang suka ada. Takut juga sih.
Domisiliku deket alun2. Sering udar-ider di sana kok. Biar gampang nyarinya, teangan we nu panggeulisna hehehe.
hai hai..
Malahan aku udah beberapa kali denger ibu-ibu nangis(mungkin belum tentu ibu-ibu sih–yang jelas mah suara perempuan agak tua).
Oya, Tau ibu-ibu kurus yang suka jualan pindang-telur, ga? Yang suaranya sopran itu lo. “endog..endog..”. ternyata ibu-ibu itu pinter nyinden. Dulu pas lagi ada yang ngamen pake degung dkk, tu ibu dipaksa nyanyi sama tukang jepit yang tinggi besar itu lo. Ibu-ibu itu ga mau, sampai si tukang jepit ngegusur-gusur dia. Ahirnya dia mau.
Pas dia bunyi, Olala, ternyata suaranya asoy-sorasoy.
Enyaan lah di KRD mah.. sagala aya.
Alun-alun mah pasti keaprak kuaku.. kan sma-ku di sana. Jadi banyak juga balad-balad dari daerah sana, baik dari golongan lelaki-perempuan maupun tua-muda.
acep´s last blog ..Selamat Pagi
Iya, tau. Pantesan suaranya aduhai gitu, pesinden… Tukang jepit yg tinggi-gede itu juga aku tau. Kalau para pencopet dikau hapal tak? Aku pernah nyaris dicopet, soalnya.
Kamu anak chexo? Curiga ngenet di warnet yg sama nih!
rie´s last blog ..Take A Look Around for Writing Inspiration
nah kalau copet mah belum hapal euy. kalau soal copet mah belum tau dan alhamdulillah belum pernah kecopetan atau hampir kecopetan. tapi kalau ga salah denger mah, di salah satu kawasan di cicalengka ada tuh semacam paguron copet.
iya ku dari ceko. Rie –kenapa ga Ria aja, biar gampang nyebutnya–ceko juga?
acep´s last blog ..Selamat Pagi
Wah! Di mana tuh? Kok kamu bisa tau? Jangan2 kamu copetnya juga ya? Hehehe…
Aku seneng aja dipanggil Rie. Lbh singkat. Ya kan?
Iya, aku alumni ceko. Jangan tanya angkatannya. Pokoknya aku skul di sana. Kamu msh sekolah ato udah lulus juga?
rie´s last blog ..8 Steps to Get Paid as 2camels Travel Writer
Ada pokonya. Tapi ga tau cicalengka bagian mana.Aku bukan copet melainkan orang biasa saja.
Iya, Rie itu singkat. Tapi asa kagok. Kalau gak Ria, kenapa gak Riri atau Rini atau apalah.
Aku juga alumni ceko. Silahkan tanya angkatan berapa. Udah cukup lama lulus dari sana.
acep´s last blog ..Selamat Pagi
Udah PW sama Rie. Jangan diubah2 ya…
Aku alumni 2002. Ada yang kenal? Atau jangan2 kita seangkatan? Tapi percayalah, nggak akan ada yang tau nama Rie. Orangorang taunya aku VJ.
rie´s last blog ..8 Steps to Get Paid as 2camels Travel Writer
Wah, ternyata Rie,eh,Teh Rie ini kakak kelasku. Kalau aku angkatan 2003,teteh. Pasti banyak kenalan dari 2002 mah. Kalau di kelas Bahasa ada Kang Epi. Di IPS ada Kang Parid. Dan banyak lagi.
Dunia memang kecil, meskipun sebenarnya besar.
acep´s last blog ..Selamat Pagi
Tapi kamu baru kenal aku kan? Hehehe… Kalo kamu kelas bahasa, pasti kamu kenal Evi. Dia kuliah satu jurusan sama aku.
Nice to meet you. Rada aneh sih. Samasama dr Cicalengka tapi ketemunya online di sini.
Iya baru kenal. Hehehe… Aku mah kelas IPS tapi kenal sama kang Efi. Nice to meet you juga.
acep´s last blog ..Selamat Pagi
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