SOE Minister Ensures Government Will Import New KRL Not Used

Illustration of the Commuter Line Electric Rail Train. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has decided not to import a series of used KRL from Japan.

On the other hand, to meet the needs of train users, the government will bring in a new series of trains.

The news was conveyed by the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday, June 26.

Erick said the decision to bring in a series of KRLs had been discussed in a coordination meeting between the Ministry of SOEs, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Financial Supervisory Agency, the Ministry of Trade, and Development (BPKP).

The decision at the meeting, continued Erick, was that the government agreed to import a new series of KRLs. This train will later be used by PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) as the operator of the KRL Commuter Line.

"From the results of the meetings held by Pak Luhut, together with BPKP, I was also invited, the Minister of Trade was invited, the Minister of Industry was invited, the Minister of Transportation was invited, the decision was to import a new train, not used," he said.

Erick said the government's basic reason for importing a series of trains was because it was only to meet the needs of train users because PT Industri Kereta Api (Persero) or INKA had not been able to supply trains at this time.

Meanwhile, continued Erick, the surge in passenger demand for mass transportation was very high.

"The most important thing is that there is maximum public service, the dynamics of increasing train passengers is high," he said.

On the other hand, Erick admitted that the production of the train took a long time. Therefore, INKA takes up to three years to be able to meet KCI's request.

Even so, Erick ensured that INKA could distribute requests for a series of trains for the next few years. Erick also admitted that he continued to encourage INKA to expand its production capacity.

"Number one PT INKA must be boosted to the required carriage production. PT INKA has the quality. (INKA) has two ( warehousers), first indeed what we have so far in Madiun, there are also higher higher grade levels produced in Banyuwangi," he said.

For your information, information regarding the government canceling imports of KRL from Japan has already been revealed by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Luhut ensured that Indonesia would not import a series or trainset of the former electric train (KRL) from Japan.

This decision, said Luhut, was taken after he held a meeting with relevant stakeholders regarding the plan to import the former KRL from Japan.

"We have closed the KRL regarding, we will not import (sold trains)," he said at KCJB Halim Station, Jakarta, Thursday, June 22.

When asked about how to anticipate a spike in the density of KRL passengers, Luhut said there was no problem. He said the decision to refuse imports was taken with careful calculations.

"For the needs, there are no problems, we have calculated everything we exercise, there are experts there and they explained yesterday that all obstacles could be resolved," he said.

Even so, Luhut said there are plans to import a new series of trains. The plan, there are three new trainsets or train sets that will be brought to Indonesia to cover the needs of these two critical years.