Perumka on track for major holiday exodus

JAKARTA (JP): State railway company Perumka is bracing itself for a sharp increase in the number of people traveling out of the capital to celebrate Idul Fitri in their home towns.

The company is preparing three railway stations -- Pasar Senen and Kemayoran in Central Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta -- to cope with the annual exodus.

Although the number of city residents leaving the capital is expected to fall as a result of the economic crisis, Perumka is nevertheless preparing for a 10 percent increase on last year's exodus, believing that many people more will choose trains given the lower number of buses in operation this year and the astronomical cost of air fares.

Pasar Senen station manager Bey Arief predicted on Wednesday that to compound the crush, many people who formerly traveled on business and executive class trains would this year buy economy tickets because of their reduced purchasing power.

"There is also a feeling that less people will travel by bus because of traffic jams along the northern coastal routes in West and Central Java and because of escalating crime on the roads. Furthermore, many buses are in a state of disrepair and will simply not be able to travel long distances," he said.

He said that passenger numbers at Pasar Senen station were expected to peak on Jan. 11, when 247,500 people are expected to depart from the station.

By comparison, last year's departures peaked at 225,029 in a single day, he said.

Preparations for the exodus were being made at the station on Wednesday, with workers seen making repairs to iron fencing and pitching tents capable of sheltering 5,000 passengers. Six additional ticket booths, two portable toilets and health posts have also been set up.

Similar preparations were being made at Kota and Kemayoran stations.

On Tuesday, departures were at a normal level, with only 5,096 passengers leaving the station. However, crowds of heavily laden people could be seen building up outside advance ticketing booths.

Arief said that people seemed disinterested by discounts of 20 percent on tickets to travel between 20 days and 16 days before and after the holiday. Discounts fall to 15 percent for travel between 15 and 11 days before and after the holiday, then to 10 percent for travel between 10 and four days before and after Idul Fitri.

No discounts are available for travel immediately before and after the holiday.

"Maybe they place more importance on collecting money right up until the holiday than making use of the discounts," he said.

Head of the city office of the Ministry of Communications Faisal Amir said on Tuesday that discount tariffs were intended to tempt people into traveling earlier and using economy classes on trains as an alternative to buses.

Discounts do not apply to business and executive class trains and other means transport, including buses, ships and airplanes.

Arief said that seat numbers would not be printed on economy class rail tickets between Jan. 12 and Jan. 30 because "passengers will be packed into every train."

Perumka plans to run three additional long-distance trains each with two special coaches for pregnant women and old people. (ind)