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Splendid! First-class carriages now available
With millions of Jakartans struggling to find their way back to their hometowns for Idul Fitri, some have had the privilege to travel with their families in the convenience and luxury of special carriages provided by state railway company PT KAI
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ith millions of Jakartans struggling to find their way back to their hometowns for Idul Fitri, some have had the privilege to travel with their families in the convenience and luxury of special carriages provided by state railway company PT KAI.
With prices ranging from Rp 10 million (US$1,110) to Rp 27.5 million, KAI, under its subsidiary Rail Tour Indonesia (RTI), provides this special service to cater to the needs of the “haves” who want to travel in style.
Lie Ching Chung, 66, who took her children and grandchildren for a ride in an exclusive carriage from Jakarta to Semarang, Central Java, last June said the journey was worthwhile.
“It may have been expensive, but my grandchildren had a great time,” said the woman who paid Rp 13.7 million for the executive carriage.
The idea to rent the carriage began with Lie’s wish to invite her 18 family members to experience a homecoming with a difference.
“Everyone enjoyed the journey. The service was as good as the facilities. The train has bedrooms. This was really useful for my children who have babies,” she said.
Apart from bedrooms, the special carriage also has comfortable sofas, a karaoke set and a mini bar for passengers.
RTI currently only operates three specialized carriages, each with enough room for a maximum of
22 people.
KAI began offering this first-class service for trips throughout Java in 1970, but it remained relatively unpopular because of a lack of promotion. More recently, however, RTI has begun receiving an increase in orders from families planning unique railway holidays.
Each year RTI experiences a peak in passengers travelling during the exodus period synonymous with Idul Fitri celebrations.
“The service is booked out from Sept. 5 to 19,” RTI vice president Sugeng Sugiharto said.
Apart from families, companies have also started showing an interest in the service.
A number of companies including bank BNI, construction firm PP and cement maker PT Holcim have booked business trips for employees and customers.
“The service is unique, but KAI must make some improvements of the [RTI] facilities if it wants to develop it as a tourist attraction,” Bintang Indonesia Holidays travel agency director Tugasmin Bintang said
