The Presence Of The Baturraden Express Train On The Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung Line Is Expected To Boost Tourism Sector Growth

Inauguration of the inaugural journey of the Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung connection at Purwokerto Station, Banyumas Regency, Friday, June 25. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Director of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Didiek Hartantyo hopes that the presence of the Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung round trip (PP) relationship can boost tourism growth.

"The Baturraden Express train, which we launched today, Friday, June 25, 2021, is a commitment by the Railways to continue to generate healthy transportation", he said after inaugurating the inaugural journey of the Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung PP connection at Purwokerto Station, Kabupaten Purwokerto. Banyumas, Central Java, quoted from Antara, Friday, June 25.

Regarding the choice of the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung relationship, he said that PT KAI (Persero) did this to connect the two tourist destinations which are expected to be one of the engines of future growth.

In this case, he said, Baturraden is an icon of tourism in Banyumas.

"Since I was a child, Baturraden has been a legend. Well, we will connect this so that passenger generation here can grow, the economy will swell. But during the pandemic, health protocols remain the main priority", said Didiek.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Banyumas Achmad Husein thanked PT KAI (Persero) for the operation of the Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung PP connection.

According to him, the presence of the Baturraden Express train is welcome with the expectations of the Banyumas Regency Government.

"From the first time we asked for (the train serving the route) Purwokerto-Cirebon to exist, Purwokerto-Semarang to exist", he said.

According to him, this has now been realized with the presence of the Baturraden Express train that passes through Cirebon and the Kamandaka train to Semarang. Although still in the atmosphere of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said his party still had hope that tourism in the future would be good.

"Hopefully the pandemic can subside quickly, then we can boost tourism, so that livelihoods are easy, can be found. Thank you very much to PT KAI", he said.

The Regent also hopes that the government can immediately reactivate the train line connecting Purwokerto, Purbalingga, Banjarnegara, and Wonosobo.

He said that if the route could be reactivated, especially for the Purwokerto-Purbalingga route, it could accelerate the mobility of people from Purwokerto to Jenderal Besar Sudirman Airport in Purbalingga and vice versa by train.

"Continue from the airport to Wonosobo. It is the hope that the existing railway can be reactivated", he emphasized.

First trip

The inauguration of the inaugural journey of the Baturraden Express train was marked by the cutting of flower arrangements by PT KAI (Persero) President Director Didiek Hartantyo, Banyumas Regent Achmad Husein, and PT KAI (Persero) Commissioner Cris Kuntadi.

Furthermore, President Director of PT KAI (Persero) Didiek Hartantyo, Regent of Banyumas Achmad Husein, and Commissioner of PT KAI (Persero) Cris Kuntadi, and a number of other PT KAI officials had the opportunity to enjoy the inaugural journey of the Baturraden Express train from Purwokerto Station to Bumiayu Station, Brebes Regency, Central Java, while greeting loyal Train customers.

The Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung connection departs from Purwokerto Station at 05.40 a.m. local time.

On its way, the Baturraden Express train is scheduled to stop at Bumiayu, Prupuk, Cirebon, Jatibarang, Cikampek, Purwakarta, Cimahi stations and arrive at Bandung station at 12.09 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Baturraden Express train for the Bandung-Cikampek-Purwokerto connection departs from Bandung Station at 16.30 p.m. and will stop at Cimahi Station, Purwakarta, Cikampek, Jatibarang, Cirebon, Prupuk, Bumiayu, and arrives at Purwokerto Station at 22.54 p.m. local time.

The presence of the Baturraden Express train can be an option for loyal customers of the train from Purwokerto to Bandung and vice versa, which so far has only been served by the Serayu KA Purwokerto-Kroya-Kiaracondong-Pasarsenen PP.

However, the Baturraden Express train, which consists of two service classes, namely executive class at a fare of IDR 160.000 and business class at a fare of IDR 130.000, will temporarily run on June 25, June 27, July 2, and July 4, 2021.