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KAI to increase seat capacity for Idul Fitri exodus
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Train passengers queue for tickets at Pasar Turi Station in Surabaya on July 1, 2016, five days before Idul Fitri. (Antara/Didik Suhartono)
S
tate railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will increase the number of passenger seats by 2.1 percent during this year’s seasonal exodus, when millions of Muslims travel to their hometowns for Idul Fitri in June.
KAI president director Edi Sukmoro told reporters on Wednesday that the firm would provide 222,014 seats per day from June 15 to July 6 — 10 days before and 10 days after Idul Fitri — for railway trips in Java and Sumatra.
Idul Fitri is expected to be celebrated on June 25 this year.
Because the number of passengers will likely increase by 13,128 for Idul Fitri this year, KAI will schedule 331 regular trips with a total capacity of 200,154 seats per day, plus 38 additional trips with 21,860 seats per day, Edi said.
(Read also:Jokowi wants overhaul of all ‘mudik’ routes)
“We can operate more additional trips if the number of passenger is higher than expected,” Edi said.
The firm will deploy 2,950 extra workers as route supervisors, crossing guards and other officials and 4,223 security personnel across Java and Sumatra during the exodus period, he added.
Muslims living away from their hometowns have an annual tradition of traveling home to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families.
According to KAI data, 5.4 million people traveled by train during the 2016 Idul Fitri exodus. (yon/bbn)
