The only type of transportation service that is not available now in Sarawak is train, but Sarawak still holds the world record for the shortest government owned railway with only 10 miles in total lenght (16 km).
In August 1915, during the era of Brooke, a steam-powered locomotive with seven carriages, namely Jean, Bulan, and Bintang set out on a journey from the central train station at Market Street and old State Mosque (opposite Brooke Dockyard), drawing huge attention from the local residents along the journey, whistling its way to the station on 5th Mile, ending the historical inaugural journey, which marked the opening of the Sarawak’s railway system. It provided both cargo and passenger service.
The railway station is located opposite the current Brooke Dockyard, and ends at 10th Mile. A station was built on every two miles on average along the railway, which include Green Road, 3rd Mile, 5th Mile and 7th Mile stations. The railway journey takes approximately 35 minutes from Kuching to the 10th Mile, and the service was available five times a day, with a passenger fare of 20 cents.
Train services slowed down in 1931 due to the emergence of public bus services (known as mosquito buses, a small seven-seater motor buses), which was a cheaper and a more convenient means of public transport.
Due to financial losses, the service was shut down in 1931.
During World War II, the Japanese took over the railway service. By 1947, the operation sadly closed while the tracks were sold for scrap in 1959.
Now, the railway no longer exists, with only a short rail road remaining opposite the Brooke Dockyard as historical evidence. Today’s Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Road, commonly known as “Jalan Keretapi/Train Road”, is a memory of the historical railway.
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