Operation likely to start on 20 or 30 August. President: No need to rush LRT operation
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily - Pengoperasian kemungkinan 20 atau 30 Agustus. Presiden: LRT tidak usah tergesa-gesa dioperasikan
4 August 2023
By: Amrozi Amenan & Tri Murti
Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) affirmed that the safety and the security aspects were the main priorities that must be focused on by Jabodebek Light Rail Transit (LRT), so the modern rail-based mass transportation does not need to rush to operate. Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi mentioned that Jabodebek LRT could operate on 20 or 30 August.
“So, it does not need to rush to operate. However, everything that is related to the system that is related to security and safety must be prioritised,” the President said after trying Jabodebek LRT from Harjamukti Station in Depok to Dukuh Atas Station in Central Jakarta on Thursday (3/8/2023).
During the occasion, President Jokowi was accompanied by State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, and Acting Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono. President Jokowi’s group departed from Harjamukti Station at 8:10 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB) and arrived at Cawang LRT Station at around 8:43 AM WIB.
Jokowi looked at the condition of Cawang Station with Heru, Erick, and Budi Karya Sumadi. Then, Jokowi continued his journey to Dukuh Atas LRT Station.
“We tried it from Harjamukti to Cawang then from Cawang to Dukuh Atas. I have tried it three times. It is comfortable,” Jokowi said when he was on the LRT.
In December 2022, Jokowi tried the LRT from Harjamukti Station in Depok to TMII Station in East Jakarta.
President Jokowi hopes that, after if is operational, the LRT can reduce traffic jams in Jakarta.
“We hope that, after it operates, it can truly reduce traffic jams in Jakarta,” Jokowi said.
President Jokowi hopes that the LRT can improve the integration of the modes of transportation in Jakarta and its surroundings. All modes of transportation in the capital city and its satellite cities will be connected to Dukuh Atas Station.
“Later, all of them will meet at this point at Dukuh Atas. At Dukuh Atas, MRT, Commuter Line, the airport train, LRT, and TransJakarta will meet. So, it will be a central point for all modes of transportation in Jakarta,” the President said.
Shortcomings are normal
On the other hand, the President affirmed that LRT, MRT, and the high-speed train were constructed by Indonesia for the first time. He mentioned that it was normal of there were shortcomings during their operation. However, the most important thing is to improve them immediately.
“Once again, we must remember that MRT, LRT, and the high-speed train were constructed in Indonesia for the first time. So, if there are shortcomings or if there are things that must be corrected or evaluated, I think that it is normal,” Jokowi said.
“Do not hope that the operation will be perfect from the get-go. No. There will be system improvements, technical improvements, and others,” Jokowi explained.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that the President instructed Jabodebek LRT to be operated for the public if the series of trial runs are successful.
“We asked for the President’s suggestion. The President is very wise. The point is that you conduct the trial runs. When the trial runs are successful, we will open it,” the Transportation Minister said.
Hence, the Transportation Minister said that there was no exact date when the LRT would operate commercially for the public. However, he mentioned that the LRT’s operation date would most likely fall on 20 or 30 August 2023.
The Transportation Minister said that the Transportation Ministry has involved 10 people from Siemens, a technology company from Germany, in the series of trial runs of the LRT before commercial operation.
“So, it can be 20 August or 30 August,” the Transportation Minister said.
Moreover, the government is choosing to conduct the LRT’s trial runs in a conservative manner to guarantee the safety and the security of passengers. There are three tests that will be carried out by the Transportation Ministry for the LRT, including the maximum capacity and the three-minute headway tests.
“We have to run the 31 trainsets, then we have to load them with the maximum capacity. Next, they have to operate with the maximum capacity and a headway of three minutes,” he stated.
According to the Transportation Minister, during the LRT’s trial run on Thursday (3/8/2023), there were many improvements. The improvements include the speed of the train on the long span.
The Transportation Minister said that, during the trial run with President Joko Widodo on Thursday (3/8/2023), the speed of the train was faster compared to the last time it was on the long span.
“It was faster than before. I boarded it two times this week. It was faster,” the Transportation Minister said without mentioning the specific speed of the LRT when it was on the long span during the trial run on Thursday.
In theory, the Transportation Minister said that the LRT’s speed on the long span could reach 40 km per hour. Meanwhile, the travel time of the LRT from Harjamukti Station in Cibubur to Dukuh Atas Station in Jakarta is only 43 minutes.
Meanwhile, the first stage of Jabodebek LRT spans 44.43 km with 18 stations. The stations include Dukuh Atas Station, Setiabudi Station, Rasuna Said Station, Kuningan Station, Pancoran Station, Cikoko Station, Ciliwung Station, Cawang Station, TMII Station, Kampung Rambutan Station, Ciracas Station, Harjamukti Station, Halim Station, Jatibening Baru Station, Cikunir 1 Station, Cikunir 2 Station, Bekasi Barat Station, and Jatimulya Station. The first stage of Jabodebek LRT is divided into three segments, namely Cawang-Cibubur (headway 6 minutes), Cawang-Dukuh Atas (headway 3 minutes), and Cawang-Bekasi Timur (headway 6 minutes).
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will provide 31 trainsets. Each trainset consists of six carriages, so there are 186 carriages that are ready to operate.
