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New Bandung train cars boast enhanced facilities
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Passengers getting ready in one of the cars of the new Argo Parahyangan train at Bandung station departing to Gambir station, Jakarta, on Thurday (3/1). (JP/Arya Dipa)
S
tate railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) began the operation of four new cars for the Argo Parahyangan train on the Jakarta-Bandung route on Thursday.
The train cars are part of the company's program to add a total of 438 new train cars this year, all manufactured by state-owned train manufacturer PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA).
PT KAI commercial director Apriyono Wedi Chresnanto on Thursday said that the new train cars came with different facilities from the older ones, such as more sitting toilets (two units on each car), four television units per car and headphone jacks on each seat, a mushala (small mosque) in the restoration car and smoke detectors.
Read also: Riding the Soekarno-Hatta airport train: A guide
The program aims to replace PT KAI's old train cars, which are more than 30 years old. "Up to 50 percent of the old train cars will be replaced gradually," he said.
Apriyono added that PT KAI usually used imported train cars or recycles old ones. "[But these new train cars] are new products manufactured by PT INKA."
Meanwhile, II Regional Operation (Daop) Bandung public relations manager of PT KAI Joni Martinus said that Argo Parahyangan was among the most popular trains and regularly had an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent.
"During weekends, the occupancy rate is always 100 percent, while on weekdays it is around 80 to 90 percent," said Joni.
PT KAI targets an increase in passengers up to 15.3 percent, from 10,432 people to 12,032 people per day.
The newly-added cars have been in operations since Tuesday, making the average frequency of Jakarta-bound trains rose from 18 trips per day to 22 trips. On weekends, currently there are 28 trips from Bandung to Jakarta, an increase from 24 trips. (kes)
