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New Argo Parahyangan train allows faster travel from Jakarta to Bandung
A trip by Argo Parahyangan from Central Jakarta’s Gambir Station to Bandung Station takes around 3.5 hours on average. The Argo Parahyangan Excellence train boasts a faster journey at 2 hours and 50 minutes.
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A train is seen near Yogyakarta train station.
(Shutterstock/File)
S
tate-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) launched a new Argo Parahyangan train on Saturday that will take passengers from Jakarta to Bandung in West Java around 40 minutes faster.
A trip by Argo Parahyangan from Central Jakarta’s Gambir Station to Bandung Station takes around 3.5 hours on average. The Argo Parahyangan Excellence train boasts a faster journey at 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Read also: More train stations to have free coworking spaces: PT KAI
“This is a [74th] anniversary gift from KAI to the public who want to travel to Bandung or Jakarta in less than three hours. With the addition of two KA Argo Parahyangan Excellence trains, KAI in total operates 34 KA Argo Parahyangan trips to cater to passengers,” said the company’s president director Edi Sukmoro in Bandung on Saturday as quoted by tempo.co.
The new service is set to start operating on Tuesday with ticket prices at Rp 150,000 (US$11) and Rp 110,000 for executive and premium class seats respectively.
Customers of the Jakarta-Bandung train reportedly continue to increase. From previously providing eight trains per day, KAI currently runs 17 trains per day. “[Even with the increased number of trains] there are still many people who haven’t been able to purchase tickets,” said Edi.
Additionally, the company also launched a private commercial train named Kereta Istimewa, which consists of two KRD-type cars with a total capacity of 40 passengers.
Managed by KAI’s subsidiary company PT KA Pariwisata, Kereta Istimewa offers mid-distance trips from Jakarta to Cirebon in West Java, Bandung and Semarang in Central Java.
Targeting family, business and other group travelers, Kereta Istimewa boasts various facilities such as a meeting room, a lounge, mini bar, karaoke, mushola (prayer room) and toilets.
According to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, the government is looking to make trains a main form of public transportation, both intracity and intercity. “Hence KAI should increase its quality in order to meet the public’s expectation,” Budi added. (kes)
