PT KAI suffers Rp 20b in losses

PT KAI suffers Rp 20b in losses

BANDUNG (JP): State-run railway company PT Kereta Api
Indonesia (PT KAI) has suffered a total of Rp 20 billion in
losses due to a decrease in train passengers within the last six
months, according to its director Badar Zaenie.

Speaking to reporters in Bandung on Tuesday, Badar said that
the political climate had affected the train services.

"We had various events, including istigosah (mass prayer), the
Assembly's Special Session, and other political events. These all
have discouraged people from traveling by train," Badar said.

PT KAI spokesman Gatot Wibowo underlined Badar's statement,
confirming that people take the security factor into
consideration before going anywhere. "They were afraid of
becoming the target of unexpected (political) riots."

He cited the decrease in passengers from the Gambir station in
Jakarta from July until the election of the new president (on
July 23). "There are usually 14,000 passengers using trains from
Gambir, but there were only an average of 9,000 people from July
to August."

The overall decrease in the number of passengers has affected
260 train routes in Java in the last six months, said Gatot. "The
occupancy rate has dropped from an average of between 70 and 80
percent last year to 50 percent in first half of this year."

According to Badar PT KAI enjoyed Rp 23 billion in profits
last year. "Rp 18 billion of the amount has been spent on
improvement of services, including the purchase of new coaches."
(25/sur)