Autonomous rail transit in IKN becomes a model for other cities
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 - Trem otonom IKN jadi percontohan kota lain
1 August 2024
By Ichsan Amin
Jakarta, ID – The Transportation Ministry announced that autonomous rail rapid transit (ART) would be implemented in several major cities in Indonesia following its trial in Nusantara Capital City (IKN) on 5 August 2024.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi announced that the Transportation Ministry would trial ART operations following the arrival of the trainsets on26 July 2024. The trial is scheduled to take place in IKN before 5 August 2024.
“The ART [trainsets] are scheduled to arrive in IKN on 1 August, followed by an initial trial. If no issues arise, a follow-up trial will be conducted with the President,” Budi Karya said in his statement on Wednesday (31/7/2024).
Two ART trainsets are scheduled to arrive, one produced by Norinco and the other by CRRC Qingdao Sifang. Both are train producers from China that are part of China Railways Construction Corporation (CRCC).
The Transportation Ministry hopes that the internal trial will proceed smoothly, paving the way for a subsequent trial with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). "I hope all processes go as planned so that ART can operate in IKN on the Independence Day, 17 August, in line with the President’s directive," he said,” the Transportation Minister revealed.
The Transportation Minister aims to operate ART as a feeder system to support the Independence Day ceremony on 17 August.
The mode of transportation is planned to operate on Jalan Sumbu Kebangsaan Barat and Jalan Sumbu Kebangsaan Timur in IKN at a speed of 40 km per hour.
“We hope ART can be a smart transportation icon in IKN so that it can be applied in other cities, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, and Medan,” the Transportation Minister revealed.
Furthermore, the Transportation Minister said that each ART trainset in IKN would have three carriages with a capacity of 302 passengers. The ART system will operate in a clockwise direction with a headway of 5 minutes.
The Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry will construct additional supporting infrastructure, including stations, to sustain operations.
“The PUPR Ministry will build the stations needed to support the train's operations. These stations will not only serve as places for passengers to embark and disembark but will also function as charging stations,” the Transportation Minister added.
ART represents a new technology in Indonesia's transportation sector, which is a trackless train. It operates on batteries and follows magnetic road markings. This mode of transportation is effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
Becoming a pioneer
Meanwhile, Road and Railway Transportation Forum Chairperson of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Aditya Dwi Laksana stated that this autonomous, driverless, electrically-powered transportation system with virtual lines represents a smart vehicle innovation for the future.
Its implementation in IKN will be a pioneer for the transportation industry in Indonesia due to its eco-friendly nature. “It does not produce much pollution. It is a sophisticated mass transportation system that we must welcome to be implemented in IKN. We hope other cities can also utilise similar transportation systems,” he told Investor Daily.
He added that future tasks include developing a subsidy scheme for the autonomous tram in IKN. “We hope the government will step in to provide subsidies. The system could be operated by a state-owned transportation enterprise,” he stated.
He added that, as a smart public transportation system, operating it was not cheap. So, government support is required to provide subsidies. “This includes engaging with regional governments, or the IKN Authority in this matter, through a public service obligation (PSO) scheme,” he added.
BTS scheme
Previously, the Transportation Ministry raised concerns about the sustainability of the autonomous tram in IKN, proposing the implementation of a "buy the service" (BTS) scheme. Transportation Minister Budi Karya mentioned this when he reported the development of IKN to President Jokowi on Tuesday (29/7).
"Since my initial report to the President on IKN, he has consistently expressed a desire for an autonomous tram in IKN. Therefore, we are aiming to implement its operation under the BTS scheme, as has always been done by the Land Transportation Directorate," he stated.
The BTS scheme will utilise the state budget (APBN), allowing the government to purchase the service from the transportation operator according to current regulations. Traditionally, the BTS scheme has always involved regional governments and bus operators.
“The government is preparing the bus transportation system, including selecting its operator through a tender process. The service costs will be covered by the government,” the Transportation Minister stated.
Based on the regulation from the Finance Ministry as the holder of the state budget, the BTS scheme is a mandate from Law Number 22/2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation launched in 2020. The executor of the programme is the responsibility of the Transportation Ministry.
