PO Sinar Jaya Pioneers Full-Toll AKAP Bus Services on Trans-Java

JAKARTA - The arrival of the Trans-Java Toll Road has ushered in a new chapter for Indonesia’s land transport industry. This highway stretching from West to East Java has significantly reduced travel time and reshaped competition among bus operators.

Behind the surge of AKAP buses speeding along toll routes, few know that PO Sinar Jaya was among the pioneers in utilising this commercial fast lane.

Founder Rasidin Karyana, known as Pak Haji, recalled how his company began as the first to operate full-toll buses on the Jakarta-Surabaya route. ‘When others hesitated, we were offered the route by the Ministry of Transport. Sinar Jaya wanted to go to Surabaya but had to use the toll road, so we agreed,’ he said recently in Jakarta.

The swift decision paid off, making Sinar Jaya an early leader on the Trans-Java toll route. Initially, the company enforced strict operational standards, designing the journey as a pure express service with no toll exits or entries.

‘If you took Sinar Jaya’s first Jakarta-Surabaya trips, the route was strictly toll-only—no exits allowed,’ Pak Haji explained.

This strategy successfully cut travel time, meeting consumer demand for efficiency. As the fleet grew to dozens of buses, management became more flexible to accommodate passenger needs at specific points without compromising speed.

‘Some agents requested brief toll exits and re-entries, but Sinar Jaya’s Trans-Java buses always stay on the toll road, only exiting at the end,’ he added.

For Sinar Jaya, toll infrastructure is now a prerequisite for expanding routes, including long-term plans across Sumatra. ‘The Ministry will only grant permits if a toll road exists in the destination area,’ Pak Haji stated.