Welcoming "Long Weekend", KAI Adds Train Trips

KAI is increasing the number of trips to accommodate increasing demand ahead of this long holiday weekend.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Passengers walk out of Gambir Station, Jakarta, Monday (15/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — PT Kereta Api Indonesia increases the number of train trips to welcome holidays long weekend or long weekend commemorates the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus Christ this week. More than half of available tickets have been sold for this week's Wednesday to Sunday trip.

The commemoration of the Ascension of Jesus Christ falls on Thursday (9/5/2024). The national holiday continues with collective leave on Friday (10/5/2024). The long weekend starts from Wednesday (8/5/2024) to Sunday (12/5/2024).

To welcome him, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) operates a total of 1,509 trains consisting of 1,101 long-distance trains and 408 local trains. The total seating capacity available during this long holiday weekend is 739,782 seats.

Also read: What are the Favorite Modes of Transportation for Homecomers in Indonesia?

Specifically, the state-owned enterprise added six long-distance train trips. The added trains include four Argo Cheribon train trips from Gambir to Cirebon and two additional Argo Parahyangan train trips from Gambir to Bandung.

"The increase in train travel frequency is aimed at anticipating the increase in customer volume during the long weekend holiday at the beginning of May 2024," said Vice President of Public Relations KAI Joni Martinus in a written statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

PT KAI Vice President of Public Relations, Joni Martinus, was inspecting the location of the train accident between the Turangga train from Surabaya Gubeng-Bandung and the Bandung Raya Commuter Line at Km 181+700 section of the road between Haurpugur Station and Cicalengka Station, West Java, on Friday (5/1/2024).

The latest data from PT KAI shows that until Tuesday, the total number of train tickets sold for departure from Wednesday to Sunday this week was 439,433 tickets. This amount is equivalent to 59 percent of the total train tickets sold. The figure is expected to increase as we approach the long weekend holiday period.

Joni said that the favorite routes for the community during this holiday season are spread from Jakarta to East Java. Some of them are Jakarta-Surabaya, Jakarta-Surakarta, Jakarta-Malang, Yogyakarta-Banyuwangi, and Blitar-Bandung routes.

The increase in train frequency is aimed at anticipating the increase in customer volume during the long weekend holiday at the beginning of May 2024.

People who plan to travel during the long weekend can buy tickets via the KAI Access application, the official KAI website, or other channels that collaborate with this state-owned company . If the expected tickets run out, consumers can choose another alternative date or route. Because, KAI provides a connecting train feature (connecting train). This facility can provide travel options by combining connecting train schedules.

Also read: Increasing the Speed ​​of Conventional Railway Lines

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), trains are the preferred mode of transportation for the community until March 2024. The number of passengers is higher than air and sea transportation.

"The number of train passengers has increased monthly and annually," said Acting Head of BPS Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti.

The latest data shows that there were at least 32.8 million train passengers in March 2024. The number increased by 2.7 percent compared to the previous month. On an annual basis, the quantity of passengers increased by 8.6 percent in March 2024 compared to the same period last year. At that time, there were 30.2 million passengers.

In addition to medium and long distance passengers, the number of train passengers is also contributed by airport train and electric train customers. Airport trains are available in Java and Sumatra.

Meanwhile, other modes of transportation recorded lower numbers of passengers. In March 2024, sea transportation carried 1.5 million people, while domestic air transportation was chosen by 4.5 million people, followed by 1.3 million for international air transportation.

Also read: Trains are becoming more comfortable, don't forget safety