State-owned train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) booked Rp 423.8 billion (US$31.3 million) in revenues from ticket sales during the Idul Fitri holiday this year, up 25 percent from the same holiday period last year, despite recording only a slight increase in passenger volume.

During July, when more than 200 million Indonesians celebrated Idul Fitri with their families in the annual homeward-bound exodus, train passenger growth reached only 2.5 percent to 5.58 million passengers from 5.4 million passengers in 2014.

'€œThe increase in the number of train passengers depends on improvement to facilities. If the facilities are not increased or improved, we can'€™t increase the volume,'€ KAI president director Edi Sukmoro said at a press conference on Monday.

'€œThe slight increase is also because we now strictly apply the '€˜one man, one seat'€™ policy, which obviously affected the number of passengers.'€

The company booked the Rp 423.8 billion in revenues during the 15 days before and nine days after Idul Fitri, which fell on July 17, an increase of 25 percent from Rp 339 billion during the same holiday last year.

'€œSince we decided to extend the operation of several additional Idul Fitri trains, we expected to see at least Rp 500 billion in revenues during the holiday,'€ Herlianto said, explaining that the operational period of the additional trains, which was previously scheduled to last until July 25, would be extended to Aug. 1, in order to accommodate returning exodus travelers.

The operations of Idul Fitri trains had been improved, as proven by the on-time performance, said Edi.

'€œThe on-time departure of trains reached 82 percent this year, far ahead of last year'€™s on-time departure of only 45 percent,'€ Edi said. '€œThe average delay in departure this year was only five minutes, an improvement from nine minutes last year,'€ he continued.

KAI has ordered five new economy trains from state-owned train manufacturer PT INKA that will be delivered next year to increase the capacity and also to replace aging trains, Edi said.

'€œAbout 50 percent of the trains operated by KAI are 20 to 50 years old. We are planning to gradually replace them, since the old trains are operated on a daily basis,'€ he said.

As of Sunday, the Jakarta Police recorded 21,313 buses arriving at 11 terminals throughout the city, carrying 277,819 passengers, while 235,853 people left Jakarta on 18,055 buses, he said.

The capital has also seen hundreds of thousands of travelers arriving by train. According to police data, 251,086 train passengers arrived in Jakarta through six stations, while 375,128 people previously left the city by rail.

After peaking on Tuesday, over the weekend the capital saw the arrival of the remaining travelers, mostly private employees and students. According to the Transportation Ministry, travelers entering the capital by private vehicles peaked on Saturday, while those using airplanes peaked on Sunday.

In another development, KAI has secured Rp 1.47 trillion in funding from the government to finance railway infrastructure maintenance and operations (IMO) for the rest of the year so that the railway company could improve its services.

The fund would be divided into maintenance costs '€” which would cover the railway, stations, tunnels and bridges '€” amounting to Rp 924 billion, as well as operational costs that would include security and management of the facilities, which were earmarked to receive Rp 547.83 billion.

'€œAll of this is to maximize our service to the people,'€ PT KAI president director Edi Sukmoro said after signing the agreement on Monday. (fsu)

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