Carrying out soft operation on 12 July, KAI invites people to try Jabodebek LRT
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 - Soft operation 12 Juli, KAI undang masyarakat coba LRT Jabodebek
26 June 2023
By: Maria Gabrielle and Tri Murti
Jakarta - With construction progress at 96%, Jabodebek LRT is set to carry out soft operation on schedule on 12 July. During the period, the people are invited to board and try the rail-based modern mode of transportation.
“The progress of Jabodebek LRT has currently reached around 96%, and the soft operation is ready to be carried out on 12 July 2023. The people, media, and stakeholders will be invited to try the trial operation of Jabodebek LRT,” KAI President Director Didiek Hartantyo said after attending LRT Jabodebek Fun Cycling Dayout on Friday (23/6/2023).
According to Didiek, several routes will be available during the soft opening, namely Harjamukti to Cawang, Jatimulya to Cawang, and Cawang to Dukuh Atas. After the soft operation in July, Jabodebek LRT is planned to be inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 18 August 2023.
“All routes are opened. So, the headway from Harjamukti to Cawang is six minutes, from Jatimulya to Cawang is six minutes, and from Cawang to Dukuh Atas is three minutes during peak hours,” he stated.
Furthermore, Didiek Hartantyo revealed that the LRT would operate without a driver. Jabodebek LRT will operate using the communication-based train control (CBTC) system with level 3 grade of automation (GoA). The CBTC system is a communication-based train operating system, so the system can operate the train and forecast the schedule automatically from the operation control centre without a driver.
“The train is operated driverless. Inside the train, there will be train attendants. Meanwhile, the operation is controlled from the operation control centre that is located at East Bekasi Depot,” Didiek said.
KAI will provide 31 trainsets. Each trainset consists of six carriages, so there are 186 carriages that are ready to operate. Didiek said that the tariff of Jabodebek LRT would be announced soon.
“It will be announced soon or after the discussion with the Transportation Ministry as the tariff is subject to PSO (public service obligation) [or subsidies]. [The tariff] during the trial operation [from 12 July to 18 August] will be Rp1,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the LRT Jabodebek Fun Cycling Dayout event that was held on Friday (23/6/2023) is an event that is part of a series of events leading up to the commercial operation date on 18 August. The cycling activity started from Jati Mulya LRT Station in East Bekasi to Bale Bengong in East Jakarta.
In his welcoming speech, Didiek encouraged participants to pass along information on Jabodebek LRT. The mode of transportation that is claimed to be secure, safe, and efficient is believed to reduce traffic jams, so it is awaited by the people.
“We from PT KAI Group hopes that Jabodebek LRT can benefit the people and reduce traffic jams from East Bekasi to Dukuh Atas and from Cibubur, Harjamukti to Cawang and Dukuh Atas,” he explained.
High-speed train
On the other hand, on the previous day, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan also believed that Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway (KCJB) could be completed on time and inaugurated on schedule on 18 August 2023. Luhut’s belief was revealed after he directly tried KCJB from Halim Station in Jakarta to Tegalluar Station in Bandung by using the comprehensive inspection train on Thursday (22/6/2023).
“I tried the high-speed train from Jakarta at a speed of 385 [kilometres per hour], but on average it was 355 [kilometres per hour]. It went smoothly,” Luhut stated.
KCJB’s top speed will be at 350 kilometres per hour when it operates to travel 142.3 km. From the result of the trial at that speed, travel time from Halim Station to Padalarang Station is 32 minutes and from Tegalluar Station to Halim Station is 44 minutes.
At a speed of 350 kilometres per hour, KCJB has surpassed the speed of regular trains that only reaches 120 kilometres per hour and has set a MURI record. In the future, Luhut is targeting KCJB to operate 68 trips per day.
Meanwhile, transportation and urban planning observer Yayat Supriyatna said that the completion of mass transportation facilities, such as KCJB, Jabodebek LRT, intercity trains and buses, and toll segments would facilitate the homecoming momentum on Eid and Christmas. However, the completion of transportation facilities and infrastructure must be followed by the people shifting from using private vehicles to public transportation.
“We have to be able to encourage the people to use public transportation. If the high-speed train is finished, the LRT is finished, intercity trains are improving, buses are improving, and toll roads are increasingly connected and integrated, efforts to facilitate [transportation during Eid and Christmas] will be automatically supported,” Yayat Supriyatna said to Investor Daily recently.
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