A discussion titled “Jejak Sejarah Stasiun Kereta Api di Indonesia (History Trace of Indonesian Railway Station)” was held in Soegijapranata Catholic University, Semarang, Central Java, on March 22, 2009. IRPS was represented by Karyadi Baskoro. The speaker was A Kriswandhono, and architect-archeologist who was also the Second Head of HAPBI (Indonesia Building Maintenance Experts Grup). Acting as the moderator was Tubagus P Svarajati, the owner of Yaitu House of Art.
Karyadi said, the fact that Semarang as the starting point for the railway line is unarguable, but the exact position of the first station was still debatable. Some considered Kemidjen as the place where the first station was built. This opinion was so strong that Kemidjen name plate was put in Transportation Museum in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). He said that the opinion should be put into further research.
That was why IRPS searched through railway publications, maps and photos and observed the location. Based on sources which mentioned the first train operation in Indonesia, none mentioned Kemidjen. They only mentioned that the train served Semarang-Tangoeng line and stopped at severel stations and shelters on the line, i.e Samarang, Allas-Toewa, Broemboeng, and Tangoeng.
Regarding the name of Samarang instead of Semarang, the Dutch administration used Samarang in documents before 1880s. Karyadi said that, therfore, the first train station in Semarang was Samarang Station and located in a place which was called Tambaksari on the present day. Kemidjen was not recognized until 1909, after Samarang Station was built by Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS).
Kriswandono said that the finding showed IRPS’ concern about railway history in Indonesia. He also said that controversies caused by the finding were not big problems as long as the research was conducted correctly. He appreciated IRPS’ effort in finding the station.
