There Is A Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Train, What Is The Fate Of Argo Parahyangan Train?

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government is speeding up the completion of the Jakarta Bandung High Speed Rail (KCJB) project. This is because KCJB is targeted to be operational in June 2023. Later, news emerged that Argo Parahyangan's train would be stopped when the KCJB officially operates. Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir opened his voice regarding the news of the termination of the Argo Parahyangan train (KA). He said, the termination would depend on government policies, in this case the Ministry of Transportation. "I think that's back the policy regarding trains and others, it's in the Minister of Transportation (Budi Karya Sumadi)," he told reporters, written Tuesday, December 6. Instead of being stopped, Erick actually proposed converting Argo Parahyangan's train into a freight train or cargo. Meanwhile for passengers, according to him, it could use a fast train. "The train can also be a freight train. Because Indonesia doesn't have a freight train. Now for passengers, it can also be done by fast train," he said.

In addition, Erick said the Ministry of SOEs together with the Ministry of Transportation encouraged the integration of transportation modes between West Java and DKI Jakarta.

"What the Minister of Transportation wants to push with us is the synchronization of the entire ecosystem in West Java," he said.

Furthermore, Erick also mentioned the importance of policy synchronization. He said, so far each ministry has taken its own policies. As a result, programs that are running cannot be synchronized. "Because of this, we often have the habit of making our own policies. That's what I often emphasize several times that the results of our synchronization with the Ministry of Transportation, one of which is Kertajati Airport as an airport for cargo," he said.