Erick Asks For Airport Train Travel Time To Reach 35 Minutes

Airport Train (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir asked PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI to improve airport train services as an effective and efficient mode of transportation to downtown Jakarta. One of them is by shortening the travel time.

Erick yesterday tested the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Train (KA). KA's current travel time is 50 minutes. He also asked to be shortened to about 35 minutes.

"So that comfort, security, and things that can be more efficient than all of these synergies. Did the airport train last 50 minutes become 35 minutes," he said at a press conference at the Ministry of SOEs Office, Jakarta, Thursday, January 2.

Erick also encouraged KAI and the aviation and tourism BUMN holding company, InJourney, to synergize in improving airport train services as an effective and efficient mode of transportation to downtown Jakarta.

"The connectivity between airports and the city center must be completely integrated so that this service becomes the community's main choice," he said.

Erick is optimistic that this plan can be realized within the next six months. Erick assessed this as a form of the government's commitment to improving the quality of public transportation that supports passenger efficiency and comfort.

"I think six months is enough to realize this plan. Later, in six months we will evaluate and collect the progress," he said.

Previously, Erick Thohir said that KAI and InJourney Airports had agreed to maximize connectivity from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport terminal by airport train. With this agreement, said Erick, it is hoped that the Airport Train can serve 10 million passengers per year, or about 20 percent of the total airport passengers which reach 56 million per year.

This was conveyed by Erick after trying out the airport train from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to BNI City Station, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 1.

Erick said airport train services currently only serve around 1.5 million passengers per year. With this capacity increase, it is hoped that this solution will not only facilitate the mobility of airplane passengers but also help reduce traffic congestion in areas around airports and toll roads.

"This increase will have a big impact. In addition to providing comfort for passengers, the burden of traffic around airports and toll roads which have often been totally jammed can also be reduced," said Erick.