PSBB Jabodetabek, Provincial Government Again Extends MRT And LRT Headway Time

Jakarta MRT Station (Irvan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Large-scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) have been implemented in Jakarta since Friday, April 10. The enforcement of this PSBB regulation certainly has an impact on public transportation services in Jakarta.

For this reason, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will extend the arrival time between trains (headway), on the Integrated Highway (MRT) and Integrated Cross Rail (LRT) as long as the PSBB is implemented. Initially, the MRT Jakarta Headway was around 20 minutes, it will be extended to once every 30 minutes.

Head of the Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo, explained that the extension of the waiting time between MRT trains will take effect on Saturday, April 18. In addition, MRT Jakarta will not stop at all stations.

"The MRT will only operate at a number of stations," said Syafrin when contacted, Thursday, April 16.

As for the LRT, Syafrin stated that the headway between trains will change every 60 minutes and take effect on Friday, April 17. Even so, he has not been able to mention which stations continue to operate during the headway change.

"(Headway extension) is being prepared by MRT and LRT friends," said Syafrin when contacted, Thursday, April 16.

Syafrin explained the reason for his party to extend the headway time lag in these two public transportation modes is because the area around Jabodetabek has PSBB status. Whereas satellite cities such as Bogor, Depok and Bekasi have started implementing the PSBB, since 15 April. Meanwhile, Tangerang and South Tangerang on Saturday, April 18th.

"The implementation of the PSBB is our guideline in every policy, especially in the Jakarta transportation sector, to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19," he said.

It is known that since the implementation of the PSBB, the operational hours of the Jakarta MRT and LRT have been changed from 06.00 WIB to 18.00 WIB. The number of passengers in one carriage is limited to a maximum of 60 people per train series.

The implementation of the PSBB has also reduced the number of MRT Jakarta passengers by 90 percent per day and now only serves 2,000 passengers. Likewise, LRT users have decreased by 90 percent of the number of daily passengers.