Perumka moves to avoid repeat of ticket chaos<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): People queuing for long-distance train tickets
\nat Jakarta stations from today should be more certain of
\nobtaining tickets than hundreds of prospective travelers
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for state railway company Perumka said notices
\nwould be placed on ticket booths detailing the number of
\navailable tickets.<\/p>\n
Bambang Walujodjati said this was to clear up yesterday's
\nconfusion and disappointment after hundreds of people queued for
\nhours in vain at the city's largest station, Gambir, in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Several had camped there since Thursday night only to be told
\nthey would have to queue again today.<\/p>\n
A crowd began pounding on the glass door of the executive
\nticket counter. About 60 people were disappointed when the
\nmanagement announced tickets for Feb. 7 were sold out.<\/p>\n
These were tickets for three trains: Argo Bromo (Jakarta-
\nSemarang-Surabaya), Argo Gede (Jakarta-Bandung) and Argo Lawu
\n(Jakarta-Surakarta).<\/p>\n
Gambir Station master Hadi Suseno had to stand on his desk
\ncounter to calm the people.<\/p>\n
"I'm very sorry but the tickets for Feb. 7 are sold out. You
\ncan buy the tickets for Feb. 8 tomorrow," he shouted.<\/p>\n
Bambang said tickets were now allocated in certain amounts at
\nvarious stations and Gambir would get the most, he said.<\/p>\n
Under the old computerized system railway stations could
\nprovide as many tickets as the number of estimated passengers.<\/p>\n
However after queuing passengers frequently found tickets had
\nbeen sold at other stations.<\/p>\n
To avoid people traveling on the peak days expected to be Feb.
\n7, Perumka provided discounts of 15 percent on Jan. 26 to Jan.
\n29, and also for Feb. 21 to Feb. 25. Idul Fitri falls on Feb. 9
\nand 10.<\/p>\n
People at Gambir said they were disappointed because last year
\nthey could get a number for the following day although they could
\nnot get a ticket. Bambang said that system could not be practiced
\nnow.<\/p>\n
People who come to the station will be guided by security
\nguards to keep them in line.<\/p>\n
Tickets are limited to four per buyer.<\/p>\n
The buyers said they knew of the on-line system in Gambir,
\nKota and Jatinegara in which they could get tickets at the other
\nstations. But they refused because they heard Jatinegara only had
\nstanding tickets.<\/p>\n
They also didn't believe tickets were sold out.<\/p>\n
Imran, who wanted to buy an Argo Bromo ticket, said this was
\nimpossible because he said he had seen only a few people buy
\ntickets.<\/p>\n
He said that on Jan. 27, Perumka had announced tickets for
\nFeb. 3 were sold out but yesterday it announced there were some
\navailable.<\/p>\n
Scalpers operated at both Gambir and the Pulogadung intercity
\nterminal yesterday.<\/p>\n
One of them offered executive Argo Bimo tickets for Rp 125,000
\nor up Rp 25,000.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said
\nthere were no ticket scalpers at Gambir.<\/p>\n
"Report to me if you find a scalper," he said.<\/p>\n
People who failed to get executive tickets could fly with
\ndomestic carrier Merpati Airlines, he said.<\/p>\n
He predicted there would 5.4 million train passengers this
\nseason; an average of 169,464 people a day or a 10 percent rise
\nfrom last year.<\/p>\n
The government permitted increase in transport fares
\nis effective today but prices already soared by up to Rp 10,000.<\/p>\n
Slamet, who planned to go to Yogyakarta said he had to pay Rp
\n50,000, while the usual fare was Rp 40,000. (yan\/jun\/prs\/05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/perumka-moves-to-avoid-repeat-of-ticket-chaos-1447893297",
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