Not Being Together With LRT, Jokowi Calls The Fast Train Will Operate In September

President Jokowi (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) estimates that the Jakarta Bandung High Speed Rail (KCJB) project will operate in September. Along with the postponement of the KCJB free limited trial with the general public.

Jokowi said that the inauguration of this project would be carried out after PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) completed the KCJB trial and was declared ready to serve the general public.

"No (at the same time as the Jabodebek LRT). Maybe we will try the fast train again in September. As soon as everything is ready, it will be operated immediately," he said after trying the Jabodebek LRT, in Jakarta, Thursday, August 10.

Sakadar informasi, KCJB gagal menjadi hadiah hari tahun tahun (Hut) RI ke-78. Pasalnya, uji coba gratis terbatas untuk umum yang awalnya akan dibuka pada Agustus mengundur ke September.

Even so, Jokowi hopes that this mass transportation project can operate in the near future to reduce congestion.

"The sooner it operates, the better because we know that every day we face traffic jams. Every day we also face pollution," he said.

Moreover, Jokowi continued, congestion in the Jabodetabek and Bandung areas has caused a loss of Rp. 100 trillion. Therefore, he said, one solution is to move people from before using private vehicles to public transportation.

"So the transfer from the mode of transportation, from private cars to mass transportation modes is what we hope for," he said.

To encourage people to want to use public transportation, said Jokowi, subsidies must be given.

"There must be subsidies, yes, it is the government's obligation, the state's obligation because this is a form of service to the community," he said.

KCJB Trial Delayed To September

General Manager of Corporate Secretary of the Indonesia-China High Speed Train (KCIC) Eva Chairunisa confirmed that the KCJB limited free trial was canceled on August 18, 2023.

"According to government directives, the plan for pre-operational trials will take place starting in early September 2023. At that time, people can try the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train connection without being charged," he told reporters, in Jakarta, Tuesday, August 8.

Furthermore, Eva explained that the delay in the limited free trial schedule was to ensure that the trial program during the pre-operation of the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train can run well.

As the first mode of fast train transportation in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia, Eva continued, the operation of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train requires very careful preparation.

"Currently, PT KCIC continues to make preparations on various sides," he said.