Holiday Ayo - The colonial era in Indonesia left many traces that can still be seen today. One of them is the Sasaksaat Tunnel, a testament to the long journey of civilization that remains in active use to this day.

This tunnel is the longest active Dutch colonial tunnel in Indonesia, measuring 949 meters in length. The rail line within it is a vital part of Indonesia's railway history.

In 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 region, and eastern Java.

This massive project, at the time, successfully connected the Padalarang-Purwakarta-Cikampek railway line, passing through a region with complex terrain.

The tunnel is located in Cipada Village, Cikalongwetan District, West Bandung. The Sasaksaat Tunnel is located on the railway line connecting Padalarang Station and Cikalongwetan Station within the operational area of PT KAI.

The name Sasaksaat is inspired by the train's habit of frequently stopping briefly in the area. In Sundanese, "sasaksaat" means "a moment" or "a moment."

However, the tunnel's existence is far from fleeting. To this day, trains on the Jakarta-Bandung route still regularly pass through it.

In colonial history, the Sasaksaat Tunnel is recorded as the longest tunnel built by the Dutch and remains operational to this day.

Although the Walini Tunnel is now part of the longer high-speed train project, Sasaksaat remains a symbol of the railway's past glory.

Like many colonial-era projects, this project was not without forced labor. Thousands of romusha laborers were the primary workforce in the tunnel's construction.

Using simple tools, they dug rock, cut through hillsides, and constructed the massive infrastructure.

This dark story is an important part of history that should not be erased.

Although still operational, the Sasaksaat Tunnel area is prone to accidents. This tunnel has only one lane with no crossing points, so strict coordination between the engineer and surrounding stations is essential to prevent collisions.

The tunnel's age, over a hundred years old, has not diminished its sturdiness. Its distinctive colonial structure and design have kept it standing strong to this day.

Dutch-era buildings are known for their durability, and the Sasaksaat Tunnel is proof of that.