The Transportation Ministry operated a train that can accommodate 5,600 passengers per day from Merak Port, Cilegon City, Banten Province, to several regions in the Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) area.
“The train can accommodate 800 people in one trip. Since there will be seven trips each day, the total capacity of the train is 5,600 passengers each day,” Director of Railway Safety at the ministry Edi Nursalam stated here on Thursday.
Nursalam noted that most of the passengers had bought the tickets online at Rp3,000 (US$0.21).
The train serves passengers whose destinations are in the Jabodetabek area, such as Jakarta, Tangerang District, Tangerang City, Depok City, Bogor City, Bogor District, Bekasi City, and Bekasi District, he stated.
By using the transport, passengers can arrive faster in the Greater Jakarta area without having to face any traffic jams.
“It is great. In addition, the passengers can continue their journey by taking the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or going to the airport,” the director remarked.
However, he noted that the train station at Merak Port is quite close only for passengers arriving at the first, second, and third piers. Meanwhile, the port has seven piers.
Hence, people getting off on the sixth and seventh piers need to take taxi bikes since the train station is quite far from those piers.
“(As an alternative), there is the Merak Integrated Terminal at the sixth pier,” Nursalam stated.
Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy stated that Merak Port and Bakauheni Port in South Lampung District, Lampung Province, would not be the only ports used to serve the 2022 Eid Al-Fitr returning travelers.
“In addition, Ciwandan Port (Cilegon City, Banten Province) and Bandar Bakau Jaya Port (South Lampung District, Lampung Province) will be operated, so there will be no vehicle and passenger congestion,” he stated.
Source: Antara News