Archaeologist: Old Tramway Found in MRT Jakarta Project the Oldest in Indonesia

via Tempo, 28 December 2021: Remains of Jakarta’s old tramway were discovered during the construction of the new Jakarta MRT. The tracks will be removed and stored, and hopefully put on display later.

Head of the National Cultural Heritage Board of Experts, Junus Satrio Atmodjo, said the tram track from the Dutch colonial era uncovered during the construction project of MRT Jakarta Phase 2A is the oldest in Indonesia.

The senior archaeologist, who is also a consultant in the MRT project, said that the first railway in Indonesia was built in 1869 connecting the city of Semarang with Tanggung Station.

“Two years after that, a tram line was built in Jakarta. So what we are facing now is the oldest tram line in Indonesia,” Junus said during a virtual discussion in Jakarta, Monday, December 27, as quoted from Antara.

Junus explained that although the electric trams in Jakarta were no longer in use, the tram tracks had never been removed, but instead buried under the road.

Source: Archaeologist: Old Tramway Found in MRT Jakarta Project the Oldest in Indonesia – News en.tempo.co