This Is The Reason KCI Continues To Import Used Trains From Japan Even Though It's Ordered To INKA

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) has ordered 16 new train series (trainsets) worth IDR 4 trillion to PT INKA to add fleets and increase transport capacity.

Even so, this state-owned transportation still requires the purchase of used trains.

KAI's initial agreement with INKA was signed in 2022. The new train can only be operated in 2025-2026.

In addition to buying new trains, the Commuter train also plans to buy used trains starting this year to replace several carriages that will be retired this year.

"The number of trains that will be conserved is 10 (series) in 2023 and 19 (series) in 2024," said KAI Commuter Vice President Corporate Secretary Anne Purba in an official statement, Friday, March 3.

Anne said that her party had conducted a Forum Group Discussion (FGD) first by involving stakeholders from the ministry, observers, to the community of commuterline users in this plan to purchase new and used trains.

"As a result, train imports are not the main choice to replace the trains that are conserved, there are other options by upgrading the technology on the train that will be conserved, it's just that this choice takes 1-2 years for the work," he said.

According to Anne, the used train will not be directly used for KRL operations.

His party first upgraded the imported train carriages.

"For example, replacing the air conditioner (AC) on the train, benches on each train with goods that have a high TKDN (Domestic Component Level) level," he said.

After working in the interior and exterior of this train, said Anne, her party claimed that the TKDN level of each trainset of the train was around 40 percent or above existing standards.

"All products used are domestic products. Currently, KAI Commuter still has not received permission for the new train," he explained.

Therefore, as long as the licensing process has not been given, KAI Commuter will optimize operating pattern engineering, so that KRL travel operations continue to serve users in Jabodetabek.

"Currently, we serve more than 800 thousand users per day. Before the pandemic, we were able to serve 1.2 million users per day," he concluded.