KAI Temporarily Stops The Baturraden Express Purwokerto-Bandung PP Train Trip

The Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Bandung connection is waiting for departure at Purwokerto Station, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Saturday (11/5/2024). ANTARA/Sumarwoto

JAKARTA - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) has temporarily suspended the journey of the Baturraden Express train for the Purwokerto-Bandung round-trip (PP) connection from September 1, 2024 to an undetermined time limit. "However, people who want to travel from Bandung to Purwokerto or vice versa can still use other train alternatives, namely the Serayu Train for the Senen-Kiaracondong-Purwokerto Market relation," said KAI Vice President of Public Relations Anne Purba in a statement in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, quoted from Antara, Monday, August 26. He said the Pasarsenen-Kiaracondong-Purwokerto 252 train was dispatched from Pasar Senen Station at 09.25 WIB, and the Pasarsenen-Kiaracondong-Purwokerto train was dispatched at 20.05 WIB. Meanwhile, KA 251 Serayu for the Purwokerto-Kiaracondong-Pasarsenen connection departed from Purwokerto Station at 06.30 WIB, and KA 255 Serayu for the Purwokerto-Kiaracondong-Pasarsenen connection departed from Purwokerto Station at 16.45 WIB. Furthermore, Anne said that starting September 1, 2024, KAI will revive the journey of the Ketapang-Surabaya Pasarturi PP train, which has been out of operation for almost 2 years. According to him, KA Mutiara Timur departed from Ketapang Station at 21.45 WIB and from Surabaya Pasarturi Station at 08.55 WIB. "This is done in order to improve services to the community," he said. Regarding the temporary suspension of the Baturraden Express train, Public Relations Manager of PT KAI Operation Area 5 Purwokerto Feni Novida Saragih said this was the policy of the Head Office of PT KAI (Persero). In this case, he said, the Head Office of PT KAI (Persero) will evaluate the Baturraden train. "We are still waiting for the central policy regarding the temporary suspension of the Baturraden Express train," he also said. The Baturraden Express train was first operated on June 25, 2021, which serves the Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung PP relationship, but not long after the train trip was stopped in line with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, at the momentum of the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year holidays, KAI has again operated the Baturraden Express train since December 22, 2022, until now.

However, the relations served by the Baturraden Express train are no longer Purwokerto-Cikampek-Bandung, but rather Purwokerto-Kroya-Bandung or south crossing.