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)