Indonesia cracks down on train surfing

Updated 12.32 Wed Feb 13 2008

Keywords: train surfing, Jakarta, train, Indonesia, roof riders

Some Indonesian commuters are opting for a less conventional way of riding the train to work.

Although illegal, so called 'roof riding' is rampant on the packed electric trains linking the country's capital Jakarta and its neighbouring towns during rush hour.

Although illegal, so called 'roof riding' is rampant on the packed electric trains linking the country's capital Jakarta and its neighbouring towns during rush hour

But Indonesian authorities are cracking down on people who are putting their lives at risk by standing in between carriages or sitting on top of the roofs of trains because they can't find a seat or afford to pay for a ticket.

After many failed attempts to stop the dangerous act, the state owned railway company has launched a scheme to arrest the culprits as soon as they jump off the train.

The officials are also spraying the illegal train riders with coloured liquid so that they can be easily identified if they try to escape into crowds of commuters.

One Indonesian newspaper reported that at least 53 roof riders have been killed in the past two years.