The four luxury train cars, each of which consists of 18 seats, are attached to Agro Anggrek-brand executive trains that depart from Gambir Station in Central Jakarta and end their trip at Pasar Turi Station in Surabaya. Each seat can be reclined up to 170 degrees and is equipped with a television.

PT KAI president director Edi Sukmoro said his company would monitor the public's response to the operation of the trains, which currently was running along the Java’s northern railway tracks.

Edi said the train got a good initial response as the tickets were sold out when they were offered on Monday. He said during the one-month promotional period, the single-trip tickets were sold at Rp 900,000 (US$64.40) each.

“If [the trains] attract more passengers, we will operate such trains, including along the southern railway tracks,” said Edi in Jakarta on Tuesday, adding that the trains could be attached to Gajayana-brand executive trains that currently serve the Jakarta-Malang route.

Edi said other potential routes for Sleeper included Jakarta-Yogyakarta, Jakarta-Surakarta and Jakarta-Purwokerto.

In addition to four train cars that had already been in operation, state-owned train maker PT Industri Kerata Api (Inka) was currently constructing six other luxury trains.

“Because the trains are local products, we have no problem with the procurement. We just tell PT Inka how many trains we need,” Edi said as quoted by kompas.com.

From Jakarta, the trains depart twice a day at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. and arrive in Surabaya at 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., respectively. Meanwhile from Surabaya, the trains depart at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and arrive in Jakarta at 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. respectively. (bbn)

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