Raras Cahyafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Thu, April 05 2012, 8:40 PM
State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is cooperating with two other state enterprises, lender PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and telecommunications giant PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), to launch on Thursday a prepaid card called Rail Card and an automatic ticketing machine, the Rail Box.
Rail Card is a prepaid card issued by BNI to replace cash transactions in purchasing train tickets. Currently, Rail Card can be bought in BNI offices and PT KAI customer services outlets in train stations for between Rp 20,000 (US$2.18) and Rp 500,000.
Rail Card can also be topped up, starting from Rp 10,000 up to Rp 1 million, through BNI's automated teller machines (ATM), merchants and electronic data capture (EDC) machines provided at train stations' ticketing windows.
"We are accommodating customers who are familiar with information technology. They can purchase train tickets, especially executive-and business-class tickets, anywhere and anytime," PT KAI commercial director, Sulistyo Wimbo Hardjito, said.
"Rail Card is a development of BNI's prepaid card. Rail Card can also be used as a payment tool for other activities, including to shop in merchants using BNI prepaid services," BNI's consumer and retaildirector, Darmadi Sutanto, said.
Darmadi said that BNI expected to attract 25,000 Rail Card holders in the first year.
PT KAI also introduced Rail Box, which is provided by Telkom. Rail Box will be located in main train stations and malls.
However, one will still need a Rail Card, or another BNI prepaid cards, to purchase tickets from Rail Box.
Currently, Rail Boxes are available in various stations, including Bandung, Cirebon, Gambir, Jakarta Kota, Semarang Tawang, Senen Tugu,Surabaya Gubeng, Surabaya Pasarturi and Yogyakarta. A Rail Box is also available inside EX Plaza Indonesia.(nvn)
