The construction of a connecting path between Tawang Station and Poncol Station

1940 - 1941

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Caption Bahasa Indonesia

Front-view of Pontjol Station in Semarang

Source: KITLV, 1927

Front-view of Tawang Station in Semarang

Source: KITLV, 1927

The construction of a connecting line between Tawang and Poncol stations is currently underway in mid-1940 and is likely to be completed in 1941.

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May 1940 - Due to the cancellation of the tram contract/concession by the city authorities (most possibly the Bodjong Express, an intra city-tram under the SJS direction which was officially discontinued between March or May 1940), thus the S.C.S. and N.I.S. were forced to build a direct connection line between Poncol - Tawang. The two companies devised a plan to build a direct connection line through Reegang (Jl. Kolonel Sugiono) and Sleko, via the Semarang river. Preparatory steps were taken with the installation of concrete piles in mid-May 1940, while the pile driving for the railway bridge may have begun in late July 1940. The construction of the connection line was carried out by Hollandsche Beton Maatschappij.

Before starting to build the Poncol-Tawang direct connection line, it was necessary to take into account the connections of several existing lines such as the S.C.S. (Poncol) that spanned to Poelostraat (Jl. Dorang - Jl. Layur, Kampung Melayu). Thus a line will also be built from Poelostraat to the bridge and then from the bridge to Tawang station. The final line will go through Sleko and traverse the site of N.I.G.M's Gasfabriek.

It is planned that the connecting line will combine the two lines that run from Poncol to Kali Baroe Barat and Karangtengah. The first line was built and functioned as a freight line from the western part of the harbour area to Poncol, while the Pontjol-Karangtengah line served to transport goods from Poncol to Djoernatan Station (Centraaal station).

January 1941 - The inauguration of the "Langs den Noord" or "line along the north side" that connects S.C.S.'s Poncol Station with NIS's Tawang Station, and continues to the SJS at Spoorlan. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of many authorities, as well as key representatives from NIS and several de zustermaatschappij or sister companies of NIS. The invited guests trialed the new route using a special train.