Rana Akbari Fitriawan and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Malang | Sat, 05/01/2010 11:47 AM
Ready to roll: Train company PT KA’s operational director Bambang Irawan launches the new Malabar train serving the Malang-Bandung route at Kota Baru station in Malang, East Java, on Friday. The train offers executive, business and economy classes. JP/Wahyoe Woedhiwardhana
Train company PT KA Indonesia was urged to develop new routes to halt losses and subsidy from the government, a minister says.
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar contributed the company’s low performance to its social and commercial missions.
“Since there’s plenty of public service obligation, the company serves its social mission well,” Mustafa said in Bandung, West Java after officiating the launch of the new Malabar train serving the Bandung-Malang, East Java, route.
Mustafa said the subsidy for economy-class train passengers was provided each year in the state budget.
“This year, the subsidy amounted to Rp 535 billion [US$59.4 million].”
He urged the company to improve its business performance by developing new routes.
“Trains should be able to connect cities that are located strategically for passengers who prefer to use trains than other transportation such as airplanes. This is an important development ”
He cited a route connecting Surakarta in Central Java and Madiun in East Java as an example, adding that a train trip would cut the traveling time to one-third the travel time in a car. “Strategic routes will continue to be developed and we will take inventory of potential train routes.”
The train company’s president, Ignasius Jonan, said the Malabar train was realized to respond to people’s demand for a direct service from Bandung to Malang.
Previously, passengers had to switch trains in Surabaya on their trip to Bandung or Malang. “Passengers can choose their preferred classes since we provide three — executive, business and economy.”
The Malabar train is claimed as the first in the country to offer three classes simultaneously: Executive, business and economy.
The company’s operational director, Bambang Irawan, said separately during the train’s launching in Malang that the new route was opened after conducting studies.
“This route aims to answer to the market demand. After conducting surveys, we found passengers had a high interest in having this route,” Bambang said.
He added the Malabar train’s carriages were formerly used for the Parahyangan business train serving the Bandung-Jakarta route, stopped on Monday after 40 years of service. The new Malabar train route, which left Kota Baru station in Malang at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and stops at 21 stations, is scheduled to arrive in Bandung at 8:37 a.m. on Saturday.
During the train’s promotional period, which runs from April 30 to June 15, the company offers a 10 percent discount.
The executive class ticket is Rp 200,000; Rp 130,000 for business class; and Rp 80,000 for the economy service.
Although ticket prices are slightly more expensive than bus tickets in the same class, the train company remains optimistic the nine-carriage train will meet passenger demand.
The company’s public relations manager in Surabaya operating region, Sri Winarto, said the company would evaluate the new route on June 15.
“The evaluation will determine how many seats are needed, what price should be set and what other facilities are needed,” he said.
For passengers’ safety and comfort, the train will reportedly include a train police officer and four policemen in every train. “We also plan to prohibit vendors from entering the train to ensure cleanliness and comfort,” Winarto said.
