KAI Orders New Executive Trains To Overcome Passenger Density

Surabaya, E Java (Antara Bali) - State-owned Railway Company (KAI) has ordered new executive trains designed to overcome passenger density during the exodus of Eid Fitr (Lebaran) travelers.

"The trains are being built and are expected to be operated in the run-up to the flowing of the Lebaran travelers this year," PT KAI Marketing and Transportation Manager for Surabaya Operation Area VIII, Sujarwo, told reporters on Sunday.

He said that new executive trains were expected to provide alternative transportation modes for passengers and to overcome high concentration of passengers that always happened during Lebaran festivities every year.

Sujarwo said of the new trains, Surabaya KAI branch office would get one train allocation with a class type similar to that of the 'Argo Bromo' train.

"We will get one unit of executive train of the Argo Bromo class," he added.

The new executive train has not yet been given a name and is designed to serve the Surabaya-Jakarta route vise versa. It has additional facilities compared to other executive trains.

"We will provide better facilities and services. It will be different from the existing ones," asserted Sujarwo.

Spokesman of state-owned train maker PT INKA, Fathor Rosid told reporters some time ago that his company was building 44 new trains ordered by PT KAI. They will be used to transport Eid Fitr travelers.

He said that the quality of trains produced by PT INKA should not be doubted as it had been acknowledged both at home and abroad.

PT INKA is located in Madiun City, East Java, and was established in 1981.

Fathor said his company has received numerous orders from abroad last year. One of the countries that placed orders was Bangladesh. It ordered 150 units of trains worth US$75 million or about Rp900 billion. (WDY)