The Reason Jokowi Subsidies The Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Train And Ticket Prices Will Be Implemented

Illustration of Fast Train (Instagram @ Keretacek_id)

YOGYAKARTA The government will provide subsidies for the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Train (KCJB). This was revealed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) before. Then, what is the reason for Jokowi's quick KCJB subsidy?

Previously, the President said that the Government would provide subsidies for public transportation including KCJB through Public Service Obligation (PSO). With this subsidy, the ticket price for the Jakarta Bandung high-speed train is around Rp. 250,000 with the route from Halim Station, East Jakarta to Padalarang or Gedebage.

According to the President, the existence of KCJB ticket subsidies is very much needed so that people want to use this mode of transportation. Thus, the congestion that occurs on the Jakarta-Bandung connecting route can be significantly reduced.

"That there must be a subsidy, yes, it is the government's obligation, the state's obligation. Because this is a form of service to the community," Jokowi explained as quoted by Antara, Sunday, August 13.

President Jokowi also had time to say that the use of public private vehicles had an impact on the worsening of congestion in Jabodetabek and Bandung. Even the congestion has an impact on large losses.

"Our annual loss is almost Rp. 100 trillion due to congestion in Jabodetabek and Bandung," he explained.

Please note, the Ministry of Transportation plans to conduct limited operational testing of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train. The plan was delayed from what was originally scheduled for August 18 to early September 2023.

Despite the resignation, President Jokowi estimates that KCJB can operate in September 2023. The inauguration will also be carried out after PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) has completed the KCJB trial and the project has been declared ready for public use.

"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 also be operated immediately," said the President after trying the Jabodebek LRT, in Jakarta, Thursday, August 10.

The ticket price for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train (KCJB) itself is proposed at IDR 250,000 which will be enforced for the next 3 years. President Director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi explained that the tariff is a discount tariff for class II passengers.

The KCJB tariff is almost the same as the ticket price for the Argo Parahyangan non-subsidized PSO train operated by PT KAI, which costs around Rp. 200,000 to Rp. 250,000.

"Because with the Argo Parahyangan train fare, it will be easier to choose, whether to use a fast train or use Argo Parahyangan," said Dwiyana.

Meanwhile, the normal non-discount rate for KCB cannot be said, what is clear is that the discount applied is expected to encourage public interest in taking the KCBJ train.

"Anyway, the important thing is IDR 250,000 first, how can it attract people to switch from toll roads to high-speed trains. (To) reduce traffic jams," he explained again.

For information, the existence of high-speed trains in Asia is still quite rare. There are only a few countries that have high-speed trains such as Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and China.

That's information regarding the reason for Jokowi's subsidy on the Fast Train. Visit VOI.ID to get other interesting information.