Inbound travelers pack bus terminals, railway stations

Inbound travelers pack bus terminals, railway stations

JAKARTA (JP): Tens of thousands of people returning to the
capital after celebrating Idul Fitri in their hometowns heavily
packed the city's major intercity bus terminals and railway
station on Saturday and Sunday.

With the massive influx of inbound travelers on the weekend,
said by many officials at the terminals and railway stations to
be the peak of the Idul Fitri return trip, the routine hustle and
bustle of Jakarta is estimated to rebound again beginning on
Monday.

Heavy traffic congestion is predicted to occur on many major
streets in the capital on Monday as students begin to return to
schools after the long holiday.

Crowds of passengers returning home were stranded at most of
the terminals and railway stations shortly after their arrival in
the small hours, waiting for city buses which would take them to
their respective homes in the greater Jakarta area.

Most of the intercity buses and trains arrived in the capital
from several towns and cities in Java and Sumatra at about 4
a.m., when there were few buses on the streets.

At the Pulogadung bus terminal on Sunday morning, for example,
there was a sea of people lining the streets waiting for public
buses until 6 a.m., since most of the buses were blocked by
inter-city buses, which also attempted to enter the busy
terminal.

The terminal alone recorded a total of 71,006 and 70,507
passengers on Thursday and Friday respectively.

Similar sights of large crowds were seen at the city's other
main bus terminals of Kampung Rambutan in East Jakarta, Lebak
Bulus in South Jakarta and Kalideres in West Jakarta in the early
mornings and late evenings of Saturday and Sunday.

Thousands of other inbound Idul Fitri passengers were also
seen arriving at railway stations, particularly at the
Jatinegara, Gambir and Pasar Senen stations in Central Jakarta
during the weekend.

Many of those arriving at the terminals and stations walked
around dragging large suitcases, colorful packages and cardboard
boxes, behind them.

It remains unknown why city authorities do not arrange special
buses for the low-income travelers arriving back in the capital
at night following the festive season. Only a few bus passengers
can afford to take a taxi for the last leg of their journey home.

Midday

At midday on both days, most of the terminals and stations had
returned to normal as only a few intercity buses arrived at that
time.

Many travelers using trains for their trip back to Jakarta
complained about the discomfort they experienced during the
journey as most of the cars were packed with passengers.

"I paid for business class. But it was more like sitting in
crowded economy class instead. It was full of people," one
passenger said at Gambir station.

A long queue of would-be passengers leaving Jakarta for
several destinations was also seen at the station on Sunday
afternoon, waiting for the late arrival of their trains.

Spokesman for the state-owned PT Kereta Api Indonesia railway
company Zainal Abidin acknowledged the bad service, saying most
of the trains failed to arrive on schedule due to the crowded
schedule of several trains that arrived at the same time at
Cikampek station in West Java.

"The bottleneck is there, the point where trains from other
parts of Java and Bandung meet," he said.

"The 54 kilometer track that links Cikampek and Haurgeulis
station, also in West Java, is only a single track and trains
passing the area have to queue up," he said.

Over two million people of Jakarta's 10 million population
were expected to leave the capital for the Idul Fitri
celebration.

With the end of the annual Idul Fitri holiday season, the
Ministry of Transportation is expected to conclude its Idul Fitri
transportation scheme on Monday by closing all temporary posts
and revoking the officially recommended 25 percent hike imposed
on bus fares during the holiday.

According the coordinator of the Idul Fitri transportation
posts at the terminals, Rinto Junaidi, people should remember
that all the posts would be closed starting from Sunday midnight
and all personnel and communication devices placed at the posts
would be returned to the transportation ministry.

"People should be reminded that starting this (Sunday)
midnight those traveling by bus should no longer pay the 25
percent additional payment," he said. (ind/leo/bsr)