Railway company to raise fine to fare dodgers

JAKARTA (JP): State train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia will raise the fine for fare dodgers riding trains plying the routes between Jakarta and cities in West Java beginning on Sunday, a company executive said on Friday.

The head of the company's Jakarta operation, Masjraul Hidajat, said any passengers, including food vendors, beggars and musicians, who failed to show a valid ticket would be fined.

"We've suffered great financial losses due to the presence of passengers who ride our trains without paying for tickets," Masjraul said.

He said the company, which serves about 300,000 commuters daily, had lost an average of Rp 15 million (US$2,170) per day for years.

Last year, for example, a survey showed that between 15 percent and 20 percent of Kereta's passengers did not purchase a ticket, he said.

Masjraul, however, said his company had so far made few efforts to net fare dodgers.

"So far, passengers who are caught without tickets have no problem paying a fine to the conductors since the amount is so small. It's only two times the price of a ticket.

"By putting the new fine into effect on Aug. 1 we hope to deter passengers from not purchasing tickets," he said.

The planned fine hike was stipulated in a directive issued by Kereta Api's president on June 30.

The company's Jakarta operation serves passengers heading to and from train stations in Greater Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Sukabumi, Merak and Cikampek.

Ticket prices for the firm's trains range from Rp 300 for economy class to Rp 6,000 for executive class.

Under the new fine, passengers will be fined five times the official price of a ticket for the furthest destination on the route. The fine is currently two times the price of a ticket to the final destination on the route.

For example, a fare dodger aboard a Jakarta-Bogor Pakuan Executive train would be fined Rp 30,000, or five times the price of the Rp 6,000 ticket for the furthest destination on the route.

"The dodger has to pay this amount even if he or she intended to get off (in the middle of the trip) at the Pasar Minggu station.

"But if he or she refuses to pay the fine, we'll bring the dodger to the nearest train station and seize his or her identification card or any of their valuables as a guarantee," Masjraul said.

The items will be returned once the fare dodger has paid the fine, he added.

He also said vendors, musicians and beggars would be bound by the new regulation.

"There will be no discrimination, although we realize they're trying to make a living on the trains."

Masjraul said the company planned to use the money raised from the new policy to improve Kereta Api's service, including purchasing new trains. (asa)