Perumka moves to avoid repeat of ticket chaos

JAKARTA (JP): People queuing for long-distance train tickets at Jakarta stations from today should be more certain of obtaining tickets than hundreds of prospective travelers yesterday.

A spokesman for state railway company Perumka said notices would be placed on ticket booths detailing the number of available tickets.

Bambang Walujodjati said this was to clear up yesterday's confusion and disappointment after hundreds of people queued for hours in vain at the city's largest station, Gambir, in Central Jakarta.

Several had camped there since Thursday night only to be told they would have to queue again today.

A crowd began pounding on the glass door of the executive ticket counter. About 60 people were disappointed when the management announced tickets for Feb. 7 were sold out.

These were tickets for three trains: Argo Bromo (Jakarta- Semarang-Surabaya), Argo Gede (Jakarta-Bandung) and Argo Lawu (Jakarta-Surakarta).

Gambir Station master Hadi Suseno had to stand on his desk counter to calm the people.

"I'm very sorry but the tickets for Feb. 7 are sold out. You can buy the tickets for Feb. 8 tomorrow," he shouted.

Bambang said tickets were now allocated in certain amounts at various stations and Gambir would get the most, he said.

Under the old computerized system railway stations could provide as many tickets as the number of estimated passengers.

However after queuing passengers frequently found tickets had been sold at other stations.

To avoid people traveling on the peak days expected to be Feb. 7, Perumka provided discounts of 15 percent on Jan. 26 to Jan. 29, and also for Feb. 21 to Feb. 25. Idul Fitri falls on Feb. 9 and 10.

People at Gambir said they were disappointed because last year they could get a number for the following day although they could not get a ticket. Bambang said that system could not be practiced now.

People who come to the station will be guided by security guards to keep them in line.

Tickets are limited to four per buyer.

The buyers said they knew of the on-line system in Gambir, Kota and Jatinegara in which they could get tickets at the other stations. But they refused because they heard Jatinegara only had standing tickets.

They also didn't believe tickets were sold out.

Imran, who wanted to buy an Argo Bromo ticket, said this was impossible because he said he had seen only a few people buy tickets.

He said that on Jan. 27, Perumka had announced tickets for Feb. 3 were sold out but yesterday it announced there were some available.

Scalpers operated at both Gambir and the Pulogadung intercity terminal yesterday.

One of them offered executive Argo Bimo tickets for Rp 125,000 or up Rp 25,000.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said there were no ticket scalpers at Gambir.

"Report to me if you find a scalper," he said.

People who failed to get executive tickets could fly with domestic carrier Merpati Airlines, he said.

He predicted there would 5.4 million train passengers this season; an average of 169,464 people a day or a 10 percent rise from last year.

The government permitted increase in transport fares is effective today but prices already soared by up to Rp 10,000.

Slamet, who planned to go to Yogyakarta said he had to pay Rp 50,000, while the usual fare was Rp 40,000. (yan/jun/prs/05)