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Wheels of the Past: Trams as the Lifeline of Semarang City 1881-1940

Siginjai: Jurnal Sejarah · Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025) · pp. 170–191

DOI
10.22437/js.v5i2.47605
ISSN
2797-9059, 2797-9520
Published
2025-12-20
Publisher
Prodi Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Jambi
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

Trams played an important role in the development of Semarang City from 1881 to 1940. As a mode of transportation in the city, trams are not only a means of transporting passengers and goods, but also a major driver of economic growth and urban spatial development. This research uses historical methods, including heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The results show that the Semarang-Juana steam tram, operated by Samarang-Joana Stoomtram Maatschappij (SJS), is the backbone of transportation to connect produce production areas with ports, as well as encourage urbanization and economic growth. Trams also form new economic corridors and expand social interaction between community groups. However, trams eventually disappeared due to the development of transportation technology and changes in urban spatial planning.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

22 authors · 58 co-authorship links

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  • Tarumanagara University
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Andy SuryadiAffiliation unknown2
Wasino WasinoTarumanagara University2
Muzakki BashoriAffiliation unknown2
Meddiati Fajri PutriAffiliation unknown2
Inez Kalyana AzmiAffiliation unknown2
Abdul RozaqAffiliation unknown2
Sulton WidiantoroAffiliation unknown1
Anis SafitriAffiliation unknown1
Bayu AdriantoAffiliation unknown1
Salma Hanifah Putri SusantiAffiliation unknown1
dwi hendro prabowoAffiliation unknown1
Nyenyep Dwi ParasetyoAffiliation unknown1
Ganda Febri KurniawanAffiliation unknown1
Andriyanto AndriyantoAffiliation unknown1
R SoeharsoAffiliation unknown1
Nurul Asyikin Binti HassanAffiliation unknown1
Junaidy Fery LusiantoAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/index.php/siginjai/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 6 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Wheels of the Past: Trams as the Lifeline of Semarang City 1881-1940</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Safitri, Rahma Danisa Eka</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Khawismaya, Herlina Putri</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Amalia, Qotrunnida</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Wijayati, Putri Agus</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Pratiwi, Ardela Iga</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Tram</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Semarang</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">urban</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">transportation</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Trams played an important role in the development of Semarang City from 1881 to 1940. As a mode of transportation in the city, trams are not only a means of transporting passengers and goods, but also a major driver of economic growth and urban spatial development. This research uses historical methods, including heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The results show that the Semarang-Juana steam tram, operated by Samarang-Joana Stoomtram Maatschappij (SJS), is the backbone of transportation to connect produce production areas with ports, as well as encourage urbanization and economic growth. Trams also form new economic corridors and expand social interaction between community groups. However, trams eventually disappeared due to the development of transportation technology and changes in urban spatial planning.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Prodi Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Jambi</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-12-20</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/siginjai/article/view/47605</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.22437/js.v5i2.47605</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Siginjai: Jurnal Sejarah; Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): Siginjai: Journal of History; 170-191</dc:source>
	<dc:source xml:lang="id">Siginjai: Jurnal Sejarah; Vol 5 No 2 (2025): Siginjai: Journal of History; 170-191</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2797-9059</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2797-9520</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.22437/js.v5i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/siginjai/article/view/47605/23031</dc:relation>
	<dc:relation>10.22437/js.v5i2.47605.g23031</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Rahma Danisa Eka Safitri, Herlina Putri Khawismaya, Qotrunnida Amalia, Putri Agus Wijayanti, Ardela Iga Pratiwi</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>