Minister Of Transportation Dudy: Train Without Transit Is An Alternative For Transportation Mode During Christmas And New Year Holidays

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi said that the trial of trains without transit or direct train is an alternative mode of transportation for the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays.

"Direct train is an alternative mode of Jakarta-Semarang and vice versa, which provides a new experience to the public," said the Minister of Transportation in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, December 10.

He said that various efforts were continuously made to maintain comfort, efficiency, and connectivity in Christmas 2024 and New Year's 2025 transportation.

One of the things that was done was through a transitless train innovation that connects Gambir Station, Jakarta, with Semarang Tawang Station, Bank Jateng.

Dudy admitted that he had directly tried the first direct train service for the Gambir Station-Semarang Station Tawang Bank Central Java at Monday (9/12/2024) at 23.20 WIB.

The Minister of Transportation said that his party wanted to give train users the opportunity to feel that train services could be comfortable directly without transit.

"And, train users can catch the night train, then arrive at their destination in the morning. So, you can rest on the train without interruption," said the Minister of Transportation.

He said that currently, direct train services are only available exclusively and in the form of trials on December 9 and 10, 2024.

The selection of the Jakarta-Semarang route and vice versa adjust the regulations for limiting the working hours of the driver. In the future, evaluation of the implementation of services and public interest will continue.

"We hope this will be the final trial, and when Christmas and New Year's posts begin around 18 December 2024, PT KAI will operate this direct train during Christmas and New Year's activities," explained the Minister of Transportation.

In line with the Minister of Transportation, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Tohir assessed that direct trains are a breakthrough in improving services to the community.

According to him, the innovation was very good because the train was immediately filled with 350 seats when it first opened.

Departure time at 11 pm is a favorite choice for the community, especially because it provides flexibility for those who want to travel long distances at comfortable times.

"Moreover, the station continues to be improved, there are shower and lockdowns, a lot of food facilities, there are pharmacies, etc., extraordinary. So hopefully we can give the best for the community," said Erick.

Before boarding the direct train, the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of SOEs conducted a review and greeted passengers at Gambir Station.