Perumka raises fares for noneconomy trains

Perumka raises fares for noneconomy trains

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned railway company Perumka has
increased business and executive class fares by between 41.5
percent and 100 percent from today, following last weeks
government backed increases in the fares for other forms of
public transportation.

Perumka president Soemino Ekosaputra said Saturday that he had
discussed the increase with House Commission IV for
Communications.

"They (the legislators) said the decision to increase business
and executive class train fares could be taken by Perumka,"
Soemino said.

The fare for the Argo Bromo I Jakarta-Surabaya train was
raised to Rp 175,000 (about US$20) from Rp 100,000, and the fare
for the Argo Gede Jakarta-Bandung train was increased to Rp
50,000 from Rp 30,000.

The Argo Lawu Jakarta-Surakarta train fare was increased to Rp
140,000 from Rp 80,000, the Argo Muria Jakarta-Semarang train
fare now costs Rp 140,00, up from 85,000, and a ticket on the
Sembrani Jakarta-Solo train now costs Rp 140,000. It formerly
cost Rp 80,000.

The executive class fare on the Senja Utama Jakarta-Solo train
was raised to Rp 100,000 from Rp 57,000. The fare for the same
class on the Fajar Utama Jakarta-Yogyakarta train was raised to
Rp 95,000 from Rp 55,000.

All fares are still subject to a 15 percent discount, Soemino
said.

"That is normal practice. When we introduce new fares, we
begin by offering a 15 percent discount," he said.

Soemino said business and executive passengers accounted for
only seven percent of all passengers, but contributed 49 percent
of Perumka's total revenue of Rp 870 billion per annum.

He said that the increases were necessary because of the
rising cost of operating and maintaining trains. Operating costs
alone had increased by 80.6 percent in the last year, he said.

Earlier last week, the government increased economy class
intercity train fares by 100 percent to Rp 39 per kilometer, up
from Rp 19.43 per kilometer.

The government also raised fares on electric commuter trains
to Rp 27.50 per kilometer, up from Rp 15.09 per kilometer.

Perumka, however, has so far continued to charge the old
prices for economy seats.

"This shows we are committed to not adding to the burden on
the public," he added. (gis)