Alya Nurbaiti, Jakarta – State-owned train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will restart operations of 14 long-distance and 23 local passenger train services on Friday after shutting down such services for two months to help prevent COVID-19 transmission.
The operator stopped all passenger train services in April following the government's ban on the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus). However, the train operator permitted travel in May for individuals exempt from the government's restriction.
"We are resuming the regular routes as a part of our commitment to serve people who want to travel between cities using trains," KAI director Didiek Hartantyo said on Wednesday in a statement.
He added that train travel would adhere to the health protocols stipulated in a circular issued by the Transportation Ministry's Railway Directorate General that outlines guidelines for railway transportation during the so-called "new normal" period.
From limitations on passenger numbers to document requirements for passengers, these are the health protocols that must be followed during intercity and local train travel:
KAI financial director Maqin Norhadi said passengers who do not comply with the protocols will not be permitted to travel and will be given a full refund.
The 14 long-distance train routes set to reopen Friday include KA Sancaka (Yogyakarta to Surabaya, East Java), KA Ranggajati (Cirebon, West Java, to Jember, East Java) and KA Kahuripan (Bandung, West Java, to Blitar, East Java). Meanwhile, the 23 local trains include KA Kaligung connecting Tegal and Semarang in Central Java.
As of Thursday, the train operator was running 99 local train services in various cities. Maqin said PT KAI was operating 113 train services, 21 percent of its regular 532 regular train services.
"We will gradually reopen routes in accordance with the PSBB [large-scale social restrictions] measures in each region, and continue to evaluate the progress of operation of regular trains," he said.
Travelers can reserve tickets online seven days prior to departure through the KAI Access application, while offline tickets will only be available for purchase three hours before the train's departure.