MTI Says KRL Can Be Extended To Karawang, But There Are Conditions

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) assesses that the extension of the Jabodetabek Commuter Line KRL line to Karawang can be done. However, several things need to be done. One of them is about electrification of the train line.

For your information, so far the new KRL has arrived in Cikarang. Meanwhile, to get to Karawang, passengers need to continue their journey by changing to the local train mode.

The General Chairperson of MTI Tory Damantoro supports the plan to extend the train line to Karawang by looking at the needs of the people of Karawang.

He said the people of Karawang used trains as a comfortable and inexpensive transportation to Jakarta and its surroundings.

"I think when we talk about need, we will definitely need it, especially friends in Karawang, because Jabodetabek cannot be separated from its activities. Indeed, it is to connect to Jakarta the most comfortable if it is served by urban trains," he said in the 2023 MTI Year End Note, in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 27.

However, Tory said a number of things needed to be done so that the addition of this service could run optimally. For example, there must be further line electrification to Karawang. This includes reviewing schedule arrangements.

"The question is, can it or not? You can do it if you want it to be extended. But there must be more path electrification, then arrange the schedule earlier," said Tory.

Previously, the Corporate Secretary of PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia or KAI Commuter Anne Purba explained that to extend the route to Karawang, a study was needed. One of them is about the required budget.

Anne also said that the domain from the extension of the route to the station's reactivation was at the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub).

"The name is reactivation of the station, the extension of the route must have been discussed in advance. Because we need study, preparation. The study is there (DJKA) too but we support the data," he said when met at Gambir Station, Sunday, November 26.