Perumka's new express train

JAKARTA (JP): The state rail company Perumka has started operating the second generation Argo Bromo express train which is able to travel between Jakarta and Surabaya, East Java, in just eight hours and 30 minutes.

The new train, dubbed Argo Bromo Anggrek, was officially launched by Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto from Gambir railway station here yesterday.

The Argo Bromo Anggrek, running on new tracks along Java's northern coastline, will have a maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour. The train is equipped with the latest technological innovations, including bolsterless bogies, which will enable it to reach its maximum speed while providing a smoother ride to passengers and an air braking system with disc brakes.

The Argo Bromo Anggrek is scheduled to depart from Gambir station twice a day, at 9:30 a.m. in the morning and arrive at Surabaya's Pasar Turi station at 6 p.m. and depart at 9:30 p.m., arriving at 9 a.m. the following day.

Perumka has set the fares at Rp 125,000 (US$41.70) per passenger for evening travel (Rp 25,000 more expensive than Rp 100,000 on the Argo Bromo generation I) and Rp 90,000 for morning travel. (icn)