Penataran Adventure

Me and a friend of mine decided to go to Malang by train on Saturday, October 29th, 2005. We thought it would be better to ask other friends to join us. Only a friend who agreed to go with us although she had ordered a ticket from a travel agency.

Then we agreed to gather at Gubeng Station (SGU) to catch the 04:40 Penataran, an economic-class train which was bound for Blitar via Malang. On D-Day, due to a "technical problem" - better not to be explained - we missed the train. Then we decided to take a bus to Malang. We took the 05.09 commuter train to Waru Station near the Purabaya Bus Station. The ticket cost Rp 2000 for each person.

I had to admit that it was my first time to travel by commuter train. It was first operated in 2004 and served the Surabaya-Sidoarjo line. Some people call it kereta komuter (commuter train), some call it kereta komputer (probably slip of the tongue), some call it Susi (Surabaya-Sidoarjo, Susi is also a common name for females in Indonesia), but on the ticket it was clearly written Delta Ekspres!

We arrived in Malang around 07.15. In Malang bus station, one of my friend parted from us. She went to her sister's (or brother?) residence. Now, there were two of us. We took the AG line to Malang Station and decided to return to Surabaya by the 08.40 Penataran train.

In the station there were several passengers waiting for the same train. I spent the time to take some pictures of the station.

Finally, the train arrived at around 08.32. It was pulled by BB30118. We took the last passenger car.

Due to some security reasons, I preferred taking some notes on the journey to taking some pictures. But before that, compulsory photo:

The train departed at 08.45 (should be 08.40). There were some food vendors, pengamen (people who play music and ask for money after their performance), even beggars in the train. The train stopped at several stations during the journey. The stations that I could note:

• Blimbing (09.00)

• Singosari (09.10)

• Lawang (09.21)

• Sukorejo (09.40, met CC20172 pulling economy-class passenger cars)

• Bangil (10.10, met Mutiara Timur which was bound for Banyuwangi from Surabaya Gubeng with CC20170 led the way)

• Porong (10.30)

• Tanggulangin (10.38)

• Sidoarjo (10.44)

• Gedangan (10.54)

• Waru (11.01, met BB301xx)

• Wonokromo (11.15)

• Surabaya Gubeng (11.30).

Note: I used the time based on the time set in my cellular phone, which was 35 minutes earlier than the clock in Yogyakarta Station. Therefore, there would be some differences in time.