Coordinating Maritime Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan explained during a meeting with state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) and the Indonesian Toll Road Authority (BPJT) on Friday, an alternative option was suddenly thrown on the table in terms of a diesel engine train for the route.

Luhut explained that the preliminary estimation for the diesel technology is about Rp 22 trillion (US$1.65 billion), which is far cheaper than the preliminary calculation for an electric train, which is in the area of Rp 82 trillion.

“I suppose we will make the decision in about two weeks,” Luhut suggested on Friday. 

(Read also: Jakarta-Surabaya project may become high-speed train)

Both technologies for the 150 km per hour Jakarta-Surabaya train route will still likely come from Japan.

Feasibility studies for the special train route will likely take place in March. The studies will be funded by the Indonesian government before combining results with the Japanese study.

Furthermore, the Transportation Ministry’s director general for railways Prasetyo Boeditjahjono explained on Friday that the route will likely be a “normal speed” train rather than a high speed train. It is also still uncertain if the route would involve any elevated tracks.

The government is looking at an operational date of 2019. (bbn)

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