Yogyakarta International Airport Train Cuts Travel Time To 40 Minutes

Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) Airport Train/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Director General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation Zulfikri said the Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) Airport Train will cut the travel time from and to the airport to around 40 minutes.

"Previously, the travel time between Yogyakarta City and YIA Airport was around 90 minutes using land vehicles. Later, when the YIA Airport Train is operational, it will only take about 40 minutes," Zulfikri said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, August 17.

Zulfikri conveyed that this line is the 6th Airport Railway line that has been built by the Ministry of Transportation's DJKA to facilitate and speed up access to the airport.

Previously there were 5 train lines that had been operating, namely the Kualanamu Airport Train, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport Train, Minangkabau International Airport Train, South Sumatra LRT, and Adi Soemarno Airport Solo Train.

In addition to the needs of airport users, the train that will pass the Tugu Station-YIA Airport Station, according to Zulfikri, can be used by people who want to go to Yogyakarta from Wates Station.

"Because the train also stops here, there are more people who use this train," he said.

Zulfikri explained, for the YIA Airport Train, there are at least three stages that will be carried out after the testing process for this train line is complete.

First, the Commissioning stage, on August 18, a Signal Switch Over (SO) activity will be carried out so that all infrastructure is integrated and technically can be operated.

"After tomorrow's SO, the airport train can technically run. Furthermore, this commissioning trial is carried out by running the train without public passengers," explained Zulfikri.

The two stages of Trial and Run are carried out by PLB KRDE with limited passengers or invitations. The train operating schedule at this stage has been adjusted to the flight schedule at Yogyakarta International Airport.

The purpose of this stage is to socialize and educate the public regarding operating patterns, such as departure times, stopping stations, ticketing systems, and other services as well as final preparation for the commercial operation of the YIA Airport Train.

The last stage is the Commercial/Service Operation stage, where the Airport Train operates to serve the public for a fee. It is planned that for the initial stage there will be 30 train trips per day with a travel time of 40 minutes.

PT KAI as the train operator will prepare 4 trainsets with systems for operation, maintenance and backup.

Meanwhile, public policy observer Agus Pambagio appreciated the construction of the railway line by the Ministry of Transportation's DJKA.

"If the route is ready to be completed, I am already Alhamdulillah. People can go faster and cheaper to YIA Airport," he said.

Agus suggested that the airport train schedule should be integrated with the existing flight schedule so that intermodal integration is more pronounced.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Society, Agus Taufik Mulyono, invited the local government to take advantage of this airport train access.

"Alhamdulillah, finally there is, I really appreciate it, this is a special gift for our brothers and sisters in Yogyakarta. Let the public and local government elements be able to take advantage of this extraordinary rail transportation. ," he said.