State-owned railway operator PT KAI has launched a new route connecting Jakarta with Banjar in West Java via Bandung. The route will be served with the Pangandaran train, with operations kicked off by KAI director Edi Sukmoro at Banjar Station on Wednesday.

Previously, KAI launched the Galunggung train plying the Bandung-Tasikmalaya route in the southern part of West Java.

Edi said the Pangandaran service was aimed at supporting the national tourism program Wonderful Indonesia by improving the accessibility of Priangan, a cultural and mountainous region in West Java and Pangandaran, a seaside town and district of Pangandaran regency on the southern coast of Java.

“[Hopefully] it will improve growth of West Java’s tourism, culture and economy,” said Edi.

The new route will facilitate travelers who wish to visit natural attractions on the southern coast of West Java, such as Pangandaran Beach, Batu Hiu Beach, Cukang Taneuh (also known as Green Canyon) and Batu Karas Beach. After getting off at Banjar Station, passengers can reach Pangandaran Beach in less than two hours of driving.

Each Pangandaran train comprises four executive-class cars and four premium-economy cars with a total capacity of 520 seats. The travel time for the 329-kilometer stretch from Jakarta to Banjar is around eight hours. Meanwhile, it takes around four and a half hours to travel from Bandung to Banjar, a distance of 156 km.

To attract passengers, KAI offers discounted fares from a symbolic Rp 1 (less than 1 US cent) to Rp 110,000. The public relations manager for KAI operational region 2 Bandung, Joni Martinus, said the special offer would be available for departures in January.

Joni went on to say that the Rp 1 fare applied to executive and premium economy Bandung-Banjar (return) trips.

“The purchase must be made through the counter, KAI Access or the KAI website and not through a ticket vending machine. Meanwhile, purchases from external channels are subject to a booking fee,” Joni was quoted as saying.

The special offer for the executive Jakarta-Banjar trip is Rp 160,000, while the economy-premium class ride costs Rp 110,000.

After the promotional period, KAI will charge Rp 150,000 – Rp 520,000 for executive-class trips and Rp 100,000 – Rp 300,000 for premium-economy tickets.

Read also: Priority class train available daily between Jakarta and Semarang

The Pangandaran train departs from Jakarta’s Gambir Station at 7:50 a.m. and arrives at Bandung at 11:07 a.m., to depart again at 11:40 a.m. and arrive in Banjar at 3:56 p.m. The return trip departs from Banjar at 1:55 p.m. to arrive in Bandung at 7:05 p.m. and in Gambir at 10:34 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Banjar-Bandung service departs at 4:02 p.m. to arrive in Bandung at 8:34 p.m., and the return trip departs from Bandung at 9:10 a.m. for arrival at 01:03 p.m. in Banjar.

KAI also offers free connecting services for Pangandaran train passengers who book Gambir-Garut connecting tickets during the promotion period.

“With the single-ticketing service, passengers only need to book once and can then board the Pangandaran train and the connecting service run by PT Kereta Api Pariwisata, a subsidiary of the state-owned railway operator,” said Joni. (mut)