Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
Era
colonial
in Indonesia left many traces that can still be seen today.One of them is
Sasaksaat Tunnel
, a witness to the long journey of civilization that remains actively used to this day.
This tunnel is the longest active Dutch colonial tunnel in Indonesia, with a length of 949 meters.The rail line in it is an important part of Indonesian railway history.
Flashback to 1902, Staatsspoorwegen (SS), a railway company owned by the Dutch East Indies government, built the Sasaksaat Tunnel as a transportation strategy to connect Batavia, the Priangan area and the eastern region of Java Island.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
This large project at that time succeeded in connecting the Padalarang-Purwakarta-Cikampek railway line, passing through an area with complex land contours.
This tunnel is located in Cipada Village, Cikalongwetan District, West Bandung.The Sasaksaat Tunnel is on the train line connecting Padalarang Station and Cikalongwetan Station in the PT KAI operational area.
The name Sasaksaat was inspired by the habit of trains that used to stop briefly in the area.In Sundanese, sasaksaat means a moment or a moment.
However, the existence of this tunnel is far from short.Until now, trains on the Jakarta-Bandung route still routinely pass through this tunnel.
The longest colonial tunnel still active
In colonial historical records, the Sasaksaat Tunnel is recorded as the longest tunnel built by the Dutch and remains active to this day.Even though there is now a Walini Tunnel in the longer high-speed train project, Sasaksaat remains a symbol of the railway’s past glory.
Like many developments in the colonial era, this project was not free from forced labor practices.Thousands of romusha workers were the main force in tunnel construction.
With simple equipment, they dig rocks, cut through hillsides, and build large infrastructure.This dark story is an important part that should not be erased from history.
Even though it is still operational, the Sasaksaat Tunnel area is prone to accidents.This tunnel only has one lane with no crossing points, so tight coordination between drivers and surrounding stations is necessary to prevent collisions.
The tunnel’s age of more than a hundred years does not reduce its sturdiness.The typical colonial structure and design makes it still stand strong today.
Dutch era buildings are known to be long-lasting, and the Sasaksaat Tunnel is proof of that.
Historical tourist destination
As a silent witness to the changing times, the Sasaksaat Tunnel has now become a historical tourist destination.Train lovers (railfans) and history buffs often come to observe the development of colonial transportation.
The beautiful natural beauty of the surroundings, combined with the tunnel’s colonial architecture, makes it even more attractive.This location has also been used several times as a filming location and has become a target for photographers, especially to capture the moment the train exits the mouth of the tunnel.
(ana/tis)
[Gambas:hitclubapk3 Video]
