Encourage The Train To Become A Tulang On Public Transportation, The Minister Of SOEs Will Study Appeals To Japan

Photo: Doc. KAI

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir revealed that trains must be the backbone of national public transportation.

"The train must be a backbone for our public transportation. We must encourage trains," said Erick Thohir in a press conference quoted by Antara, Monday, January 2.

If you look at Japan, China, and the United States, he continued, the backbone of public transportation for these countries is trains. Therefore, he said, Indonesia must rebuild the rail sector, some of which are through the Jakarta - Bandung and Jabodebek LRT high-speed rail projects.

"We will conduct an comparative study with Japan. For the best trains in Japan," said Erick Thohir.

However, he said the construction of toll roads would also continue, considering that public transportation development must cover all related sectors.

Previously, Erick Thohir said that in order to reduce congestion, the government was trying to reduce the use of private vehicles by improving mass transportation services.

He explained that the construction of a residential area in urban areas should be close to public service facilities, such as KRL mass transportation to make it more accessible.

Currently, SOEs have built four TOD points. SOEs continue to synergize and collaborate with the private sector to improve mass transportation facilities as a whole.

Erick Thohir also previously inaugurated the operation of the Mak Itam Railway (KA) on the Sawahlunto - Muaro Kalaban railway line, West Sumatra.

He said the inauguration of the Mak Itam Tourism Train was impossible if all stakeholders did not collaborate and did not do it with their hearts. He assessed that collaboration or gotong royong is the foundation of the Indonesian nation.

The operation of this Tourism Train is an effort to increase tourism in West Sumatra, especially in the Sawahlunto area. The community can now travel by train in an area designated as a UNESCO New World Heritage, namely the Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto Site.