Ahead Of The KCJB Operations, Commission V Of The DPR Asks For Regular Trains Not To Be Eliminated

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission V DPR Syarief Abdullah Alkadrie requested that the regular train or Argo Parahyangan on the Jakarta-Bandung route not be abolished, along with the operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Train (KCJB).

This was conveyed by Syarief during his review to the Bandung Railway Station in order to check the supporting facilities and infrastructure of KCJB which will start operating in mid-2023.

The reason, said the Head of the Commission V DPR RI Specific Working Visit Team, the two trains have different segments.

"We know that this fast train with a regular train (Argo Parahyangan) has different segments, both in terms of price and so on. The DPR asks firmly that the Ministry of Transportation does not stop the regular train if the fast train has been operated," he said in an official statement, Friday, February 10.

Syarief assessed that regular trains are intended for people who consider tariffs more, while the high-speed train is intended for people who consider travel time.

"By not stopping regular trains, at least reducing traffic density, especially roads. Because when the regular train is closed, people with the lower middle segment will automatically switch to land transportation such as buses, travel and so on," he said.

Syarief assessed that the more transportation options, the better, because the wider choice of transportation modes of society.

"I ask that in line with the operation of KCJB, regular trains also continue to operate," he said.

Syarief said Commission V of the DPR hopes that the Ministry of Transportation can make a fair decision by considering the needs of all levels of society so that assumptions do not grow that say that the people are forced to switch to fast paper.

"Because transportation modes are provided with various alternatives so that people can choose the mode according to their needs," he concluded.

Previously, it was reported that the Government was continuing to accelerate the construction of the Jakarta Bandung High Speed Rail (KCJB) project.

The project is targeted to operate in June 2023. Even though it is actually delayed from the initial target, namely the end of 2021.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said he was optimistic that the construction of the high-speed rail project would be completed soon. So that operations can be carried out according to the target in June 2023.

"God willing, now the progress is 84 percent," Budi told reporters at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, written Thursday, January 19.