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Presidential train now available for Jakartans traveling to Bandung
Jakartans traveling to Bandung in West Java can now opt to enjoy a more convenient mode of transportation following the availability of a "priority class" train service.
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An attendant poses at the priority train carriage from Yogyakarta to Jakarta on Aug. 6, 2017.
(kompas.com/Andreas Lukas Altobeli)
J
akartans traveling to Bandung in West Java can now opt to enjoy a more convenient mode of transportation following the availability of a "priority class" train service.
Departing from Gambir Station in Central Jakarta, the service will be available starting Friday.
"This priority class used to be offered by a subsidiary of [state-owned railway operator] PT KAI, PT Kereta Api Wisata, to cater to [VVIP passengers like] the President or a group of travelers. However, to improve our service, we will open it to individual passengers," Edy Kuswoyo, senior public relations manager for KAI’s I Regional Operation (Daop) Jakarta, told kompas.com.
The priority car will be connected to the Argo Parahyangan train and operate every day, departing from Gambir at 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m., and from Bandung at 5 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Read also: New Bandung train cars boast enhanced facilities
With tickets priced at Rp 200,000 (US$14) per person, only one car is available for this service, which can accommodate 28 passengers. Among the facilities provided are Video on Demand, Wi-Fi, coffee and snacks, baggage storage and a toilet.
Ticket reservation is currently available on the mobile app KAI Access and the company’s website kai.id.
The service is currently in its trial run, which will continue until March 31.
"If the response is good, we may continue [the service] in April, and perhaps in the months after," Edy added.
The priority class was launched in August last year on Central Java trains, such as Taksaka (Jakarta-Yogyakarta) and Argo Lawu and Argo Dwipangga (Jakarta-Surakarta).
However, all three services only operate on weekends. The Yogyakarta train travels every Friday on 8:45 p.m. from Jakarta, and returns to Gambir on Sunday at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, the Surakarta train departs from Jakarta on Friday at 8:15 p.m. and returns on Sunday at 8 p.m. (kes)
