President Jokowi Inaugurates Operation of Soekarno-Hatta Train

Tangerang, Banten, MINA – President Joko Widodo or popularly known by his nickname okowi inaugurated the operation of a train from the Soekarno Hatta International Airport, here, Tuesday.

The head of state was accompanied by Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi; State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno; Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto; Tourism Minister Arief Yahya; Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimujono; Chief of the National Police General Tito Karnavian, Antara News reported.

After pushing a serine button and signing an inscription of inauguration, the president and his entourage rode on the train that took them from the airport to the Sudirman Baru Station in Central Jakarta.

The trial operation of the train was carried out from December 26, 2017, until January 1, 2018, with the ticket priced at Rp30 thousand per passenger per trip, but the normal tariff is now Rp70 thousand.

Edi Sukmoro, president director of state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, informed the press recently that the company had sought inputs from passengers during the trial operation.

The train to the airport has six coaches with a capacity to accommodate 272 passengers and conduct 42 trips per day.

The train makes a stopover at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Batu Ceper Station in Tangerang, and Sudirman Station.

Initially, the airport train had started from the Manggarai railway station, but since work on another project was ongoing at the Manggarai station, the plan was postponed.

The train is connected directly to a skytrain that will connect the airport`s Terminal 1, 2, and 3.

From the Sudirman Baru station, the train starts at 3:40 a.m. local time, while from the Soekarno-Hatta station, it operates from 6:10 a.m. to 11:10 p.m. local time.

The train offers free Wi-Fi to passengers. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)