Train fares cut 70% for poor travelers

Train fares cut 70% for poor travelers

JAKARTA (JP): State railway company Perumka is giving a 70
percent discount to people who have little means of returning
home from Jakarta to West and East Java.

The discounts will only apply for those traveling using the
provided trains which will begin departing every hour between 5
a.m. on Jan. 20 and 5 a.m. on Jan. 21.

Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said the
discounts were primarily aimed at helping the unemployed and cash
strapped workers in Jakarta.

"We give this opportunity chiefly to people who are
unemployed, who have been laid off and who cannot find jobs. As
long as they have a little cash, please take advantage of this
grand discount," he said.

Anyone who travels on those dates can use the discounts.

Haryanto did not say why Central Java was not included in the
discount scheme or whether there would be any discount for those
later wishing to return to Jakarta.

He said President Soeharto had given his permission to allow
Perumka to give the discounts and that Vice President Try
Sutrisno has also been informed of it.

"Seventy percent is quite a big deal," Haryanto said.

Perumka is making preparations to provide additional carriages
so it can transport up to 70,000 passengers within that 24-hour
period.

Haryanto said he would oversee the operation and assess
whether it could be extended or even applied again in the future.

According to Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief, 120,000
workers in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi had reportedly
lost their jobs. (09)