Steam Locomotive "Si Gombar" Now In TMII, Garut Regent Asks Minister Of Transportation To Be Returned

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Regent Rudy Gunawan hopes that the Ministry of Transportation can immediately bring Si Gombar, a historical steam locomotive to Garut Regency, West Java so that it can become a tourist attraction.

"So Garut really wants to have a historical place, sir. Si Gombar has been around for 60 years," said Rudy during the inauguration of the reactivation of the Garut-Cibatu railway line which was attended by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya and the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir at Garut Station, Thursday, March 24, reported by Antara.

Garut regency government will officially convey the wishes of the community related to bringing in the historic locomotive which at that time became the pride of the people of Garut when riding the train.

The steam locomotive, said the Regent, had not been in Garut since 1983. Now Si Gombar is in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta. Rudy hopes that the Minister of Transportation can present him in Garut.

"The locomotive can go to Garut, right, make a track," he said.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya who was present at the inauguration ceremony of Garut Station responded to the wishes of the community conveyed by the Regent regarding bringing the Si Gombar locomotive to Garut.

If the request is a form of the Garut people's love for trains, the Minister said, efforts will be made to realize his wish.

"If indeed it can realize the love of the people of Garut for trains, later we will persuade," said Budi.

The inauguration of the reactivation of the Cibatu-Garut railway line, Garut Station, and the operation of the Cikuray and Cibatuan trains were attended by the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir and the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya as well as the board of directors of PT KAI.

After the inauguration, the Garut-Cibatu Station railway line, which has not been operated for 40 years, can now be enjoyed again by the public for trips from Garut to Bandung and Jakarta back and forth.