Train passengers up by 8.29 percent

JAKARTA: Train passengers in Java and Sumatra in November 2003 increased to 14.51 million people, or 8.29 percent more than the previous month.

Central Body of Statistics trade and services director Rusman Heriawan said on Friday that of the total train passengers, 7.85 million were commuters from Jakarta, Depok, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jadebotabek).

Passengers from outside Jadebotabek increased by 66.71 percent in Java and 11.07 percent in Sumatra, Rusman said.

"The increase was a result mainly of the Idul Fitri exodus," he said.

For ship passengers, he added, the figure jumped by 10.25 percent in November 2003 compared with the previous month.

The highest percentages were found at Tanjung Priok port, Jakarta (55 percent), followed by Belawan port in Medan (38.46 percent), and Tanjung Perak port, Surabaya (16.28 percent).

Surprisingly, the number of international flight passengers decreased to 380,000 in November 2003, from 397,000 in October 2003.

The number of passengers on domestic flights also fell to 1.31 million in November 2003 (13.37 percent) compared with the previous month. -- JP