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Transportation minister tests Jakarta-Yogyakarta direct train
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi tested the direct train from Jakarta to Yogyakarta on Monday. The route will serve travelers during the year-end holidays.
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The driver looks out from his locomotive window before departing from Gambir Station in Central Jakarta in this undated picture. (Kompas.com/PT KAI)
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ransportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has tried out the direct train from Gambir Station in Jakarta to Tugu Station in Yogyakarta alongside other officials, including Coordinating Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.
The group departed from Gambir Station on Monday at 11:25 p.m. and arrived in Yogyakarta on Tuesday at 5:28 a.m. as scheduled.
The travel time is 20 minutes shorter than the regular executive train traveling the same route.
Previously, the Transportation Ministry and state-owned railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) already tested the direct train from Gambir Station to Tawang Station in Semarang, Central Java, on Dec. 9.
KAI is planning to operate the direct train route for the year-end holidays, with its service starting on Wednesday.
Dudy said that if there was sufficient interest among passengers, the service might be offered beyond that period.
Dudy said the direct train service was an important innovation in Indonesia's transportation system, and hoped that the new service could be an option for people traveling for business, leisure or simply commuting home.
“We want this direct train [service] to significantly improve inter-city connectivity. This will boost the tourist sector, small and medium-sized enterprises, and businesses overall,” Dudy said on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
He also asked KAI to provide a stellar service for consumers, especially in relation to safety, comfort and punctuality, as well as thanking every party involved in the direct train project.
“I thank every party contributing to the Jakarta-Yogyakarta direct train project. Let’s continue working hard to create a better transportation system for Indonesia,” Dudy said.
The Transportation Ministry estimates that the number of people traveling during the year-end holidays will amount to 110.67 million. These travelers will use various modes of transportation.
Air transportation will be the dominant public transportation mode, with 8.2 million people expected to fly during the holiday period. Meanwhile, the railway system is expected to cater to 6.8 million passengers during this year-end period. Another 2.5 million passengers will take buses, 1.6 million people taking ferries and 1.3 million will use other ships.
