PT KAI to launch Serpong-Kota express train
PT KAI to launch Serpong-Kota express train
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Greater Jakarta division of state-owned railway operator PT
Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will launch an express train plying
the route between Kota station, West Jakarta, and Serpong
district, Tangerang, Banten, sometime next month, with a view to
capturing business from the upper end of the market.
The new air-conditioned, executive-class electric train will
be operated in cooperation with Madiun, East Java-based state-
owned train industry company PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA).
"PT INKA will bear all the maintenance and operating costs and
in return will receive revenue from its operations," spokesman of
KAI's Greater Jakarta division Zainal Abidin told The Jakarta
Post on Tuesday.
"Our share in the cooperation will be limited to operating the
trains," he added.
Asked about the profit that KAI would receive from the
cooperation, Zainal said KAI and INKA were still discussing it.
Similarly, the spokesman said, a specific date for
commencement of the new service was not yet available as
discussion between both state companies was under way.
Currently, the Greater Jakarta Division already runs a
business-class train on the Serpong route at a fare of Rp 3,500
(40 US cents). It also runs executive-class trains to the West
Java cities of Depok and Bogor, respectively the Depok Express
and Pakuan Express.
"We are also still discussing the fare (for the Kota to
Serpong train), but it will be around Rp 6,000, similar to that
for the Depok Express," said Zainal.
"The new train will leave Serpong station early in the morning
and leave Kota station in the afternoon, after office hours.
"It will stop at Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, as it is a
large station, at which, regulations state, all trains must
stop."
Zainal also said that the train might make a stop at Sudimara,
near Pamulang district, Tangerang, if the market looks promising.
"Executive-class trains are designed to earn as much revenue
as possible. The train will stop in Sudimara if plenty of
passengers are there. "We may also increase the trip frequency if
passenger demand justifies additional trips," he said.
No information was immediately available from PT INKA
spokesman Rosyid on details of the cooperation.
But PT INKA security guard at its Madiun office Winarto told
the Post that the train of eight cars would be delivered on Feb.
14, pulled by a diesel locomotive.
The train will have a capacity of about 800 passengers.
In a separate development, Zainal said that PT KAI had asked
the government to delay the purchase of a train from Germany,
saying the company did not have a suitable space to store all the
rolling stock.
"Even with our current fleet we have difficulty in storing it.
"The government has promised that it will build a new train
depot in Depok to accommodate the new trains," he said.