Trams in Jakarta

The first horse tram in Batavia was operated by Bataviasche Tramweg Maatschappij (BTM, Batavia Tramways Company). The horse tram line was inaugurated on 20 April 1869, long before trams existed in the Netherlands- using a gauge width of {{track gauge|1188mm}}, connecting Batavia Old Town with Weltevreden.{{cite book|last=Shahab|first=Alwi|year=2009|title=Batavia Kota Banjir|place=Jakarta|publisher=Penerbit Republika}}{{cite web|url=http://searail.malayanrailways.com/PJKA/Nederland-Indies%20Tramway/NITM.htm|title=NITM|accessdate=20 December 2017}} At the time the tram, pulled by 3-4 horses, could accommodate up to 40 passengers. In April 1869 an estimated 1,500 passengers had been served by the system and in September 1869 it was increased to 7,000 passengers.{{cite journal

| last = Yasin Sulaeman

| first = Adriansyah

| date = November 2017

| title = Trem Batavia, Mutiara Transportasi Jakarta yang Terlupakan

| url = https://issuu.com/adriansyahyasinsulaeman/docs/jurnal_20trem_20batavia-ilovepdf-co

| access-date = 10 July 2019

}}

As a result of horse trams operational problems experienced by the BTM, in 1880 the operation was handled temporarily by Firma Dummler & Co. Two years later, on 19 September 1881 Bataviasche Tramweg Maatschappij officially changed its name into Nederlands-Indische Tramweg Maatschappij (NITM, Netherlands Indies Tramways Company) and took over Batavia trams operation previously handled by Firma Dummler & Co.{{in lang|nl}} {{cite book |author= |title=Nederlands-Indische Tramweg Maatschappij |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB02A:000030522:pdf |location=Batavia |publisher=Koninklijke Bibliotheek |page= |date=1881–1921 |isbn=}} Under NITM, there was a gradual overhaul of its fleet and infrastructure, which the replacement of horse with steam locomotives produced by Hohenzollern Locomotive Works. The first locomotive was purchased for ƒ8,800 and the fleet replacement process was completed in 1884. The horse tram service was closed from 12 June 1882. NITM services reopened on 1 July 1883 with the inauguration of the steam tram service as well as the new Batavia Old Town–Harmonie line.

Four years after the operation of the Batavia Old Town–Harmoni steam tram line, electric trams was introduced under the operation of the Batavia Elektrische Tram Maatschappij (BETM, Batavia Electric Tram Company), making it a competitor to the NITM's steam tram. BETM began operation since the inauguration of Batavia Old Town–Ragunan Zoo line on 10 April 1899 which was extended to Tanah Abang Station in November 1899, but unfortunately the extension was closed in 1904. In 1900 BETM extended its tram network, reaching Jembatan Merah, Tanah Tinggi, and Gunung Sahari areas by crossing Ciliwung River. With the increasing number of years, BETM continued to expand its tram network until 1920, it marked with unhealthy competition between BETM and NITM. The competition caused ticket prices became too expensive that Batavia city government demanded NITM to upgrade its fleet to become electric-powered, but was refused by NITM itself.

As a result of the competition, the two began to impose transit tickets and special schedules during rush hour. On 31 July 1930 NITM and BTM were merged to form Bataviasche Verkeers Maatschappij (BVM, Batavia Transport Company). The merger combines 1 steam tram line, 2 trolleybus lines, and 7 bus routes operated by both NITM and BETM.

Under BVM, the tramways underwent significant changes. In former NITM routes, the electrification program was carried out from April 1933 to 1934. The electrification made the travel time from Batavia Old City to Jatinegara cut by 10 minutes. BVM experienced its peak in 1934, where it operating 5 electric tram lines with a total length of 41 kilometers.

The decline of the Batavia (Jakarta) tram began in 1935. As a result of Great Depression, BVM had financial problems, which its popularity was threatened by the emergence of other modes such as bemo and oplet. As a result of this financial constraint, the BVM bus service was closed and the company will only focus on the trolleybus service. The BVM bus service only reopened in 1941.

In March 1942, the Dutch East Indies entered the Japanese occupation. The trams service managed by the BVM was taken over by the Japanese army and changed its name to the Nippon Batavia Tram Army. Then in June 1942 it was changed to Seibu Rikuyo Batavia Shiden, and then, Jakaruta Shiden (ジャカルタ市電, Jakarta Trams). Under the control of Jakaruta Shiden the Jakarta tram underwent overhaul, including abolishing the class system, dismissing BVM workers who were Dutch citizens, applying Japanese symbols on tram bodies, and doubling tracks on Gunung Sahari–Pal Putih line.

File:De electrische tram nr 1 op de Mataramweg in Batavia, gezien richting Meester C, Bestanddeelnr 255-6738.jpg

After Indonesian independence, Indonesians took over the Jakaruta Shiden system on 13 October 1945, and changed its name to the Djakarta-Kota Tram which in 1957 was nationalized as Pengangkutan Penumpang Djakarta (PPD, Djakarta Passenger Transport). Although it was taken over, PPD only operated the tram for some years and was abolished because it was deemed unsuitable for urban spatial planning.{{cite book|last=Shahab|first=Alwi|title=Saudagar Baghdad dari Betawi|year=2004|place=Jakarta|publisher=Penerbit Republika}}

File:Tram 1 van Djakarta naar Djatinegara, Bestanddeelnr 156-3-5.jpg

Here is the Jakarta tram service schedule as of June 1, 1948

The list provides only steam-tram rolling stock of Batavia until the year 1924.{{cite web |url=http://searail.malayanrailways.com/PJKA/Nederland-Indies%20Tramway/NITM.htm |title=Nederlands-Indische Tramweg Maatschappij |website=Searail Malayan Railways |access-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402164253/http://searail.malayanrailways.com/PJKA/Nederland-Indies%20Tramway/NITM.htm |archive-date=April 2, 2017 |url-status=live }} The list is sorted by its year.

The tram line is divided into three classes, namely class 1, class 2 and class 3. This last class is intended for the native population which is generally only shaped like an open tub or called pikolanwagen, this facility is used to transport fish, vegetables, fruits and the like. The average passenger usually consists of class 1 as much as 15%, while the rest are for classes 2 and 3.

In the film Asrama Dara (1958), the Jakarta tram is the background for the song "Trem and Bus Kota" sung by Aminah Tjendrakasih.{{cite web |title=Asrama Dara OST - Trem & Bis Kota - Sajekti / (Aminah Tjendrakasih) HD |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6Aqp1v04M |website=Kharis Ekky (YouTube) |access-date=January 18, 2023}}

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De oude kasteelpoort van Batavia TMnr 3728-769.jpg|A horse tram passing Batavia's Amsterdam Gate in 1880.

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Postspaarbank gelegen aan de Molenvliet in het centrum van Batavia met druk tramverkeer TMnr 60010980.jpg|The steam tram in front of the Postspaarbank showing trams for three divided social classes.

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Straatgezicht met tram en pick-up TMnr 60044377.jpg|An electric tram in the Kramat – Tanah Abang tram route.

File:Nieuws uit Indonesië, de volkswijk Tanah Abang aan de rand van Batavia Weeknummer 46-35 - Open Beelden - 16839.ogv|The overflowing tram in Jakarta year 1946.

File:Remains of the former Jakarta tram tracks in Glodok.jpg|The remains of the former Jakarta tram tracks in Glodok.

• Transport in Jakarta
• Trams in Surabaya, another former tram system in Indonesia

{{Portal|Jakarta|Indonesia}}

{{commons category|Trams in Jakarta}}

{{reflist|3}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Dick |first1=Howard |last2=Rimmer |first2=Peter J. |date=2003 |title=Cities, Transport and Communications - The Integration of Southeast Asia since 1850 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9781349390229 |author-link2=Peter J. Rimmer}}
• {{cite book |last=Duparc |first=H.J.A. |date=1972 |title=Trams en Tramlijnen: De Elektrische Stadstrams op Java |location=Rotterdam |publisher=Wyt |isbn=9789060075821}}
• {{cite book |last=Merrillees |first=Scott |date=2015 |title=Jakarta: Portraits of a Capital 1950-1980 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=akLWjgEACAAJ&q=JAKARTA:+Portraits+of+a+Capital+1950-1980 |location=Jakarta |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=9786028397308}}
• {{cite book |last=Sulaeman |first=Adriansyah Yasin |date=2017 |title=Trem Batavia, Mutiara Transportasi Jakarta Yang Terlupakan |trans-title=Batavian Tram, The Forgotten Pearl of Jakarta's Transportation |url=https://issuu.com/adriansyahyasinsulaeman/docs/jurnal_20trem_20batavia-ilovepdf-co |location=Breda |publisher=Issuu}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.indonesia-dutchcolonialheritage.nl/Special%20Subjects/Railroads.html/tram-batavia[1].pdf |title=From horsepower to electrification - Tramways in Batavia-Jakarta 1869-1962 |last=Teeuwen |first=Dirk |date=2010 |website=Rendez-vous Batavia |publisher=Indonesia-Dutch Colonial Heritage |access-date=April 22, 2017}}

{{refend}}

Category:Rail transport in Jakarta

Category:1869 establishments in the Dutch East Indies

Jakarta

Category:Tram transport in Indonesia