Now, Jakarta-Surabaya is Only 9.5 Hours by Train

TheIndonesia.id - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) accelerated the travel time of 10 long-distance train journeys (KAJJ) starting on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. KAI's VP of Public Relations Joni Martinus said that the acceleration of travel time is innovation so that makes customers can arrive at their destination faster, in line with KAI's 77th-anniversary theme, which is Rise Up Faster, Serve Better.

"This acceleration of train travel time is part of improving KAI's services at the moment of KAI's 77th Anniversary which is commemorated on September 28," said Martinus in Jakarta, Monday, September 12, 2022.

Martinus explained that trains that experienced acceleration in travel time were the Argo Sindoro train (Gambir - Semarang Tawang return), the Argo Muria train (Gambir - Semarang Tawang return), the Bima train (Gambir - Surabaya Gubeng return), the Sembrani train (Gambir - Surabaya Pasarturi return), and Turangga train (Bandung - Surabaya Gubeng return).

The following is the acceleration of the travel time of 5 long-distance trains:
1. Argo Sindoro train with train number 11, the Semarang Tawang - Gambir connection from the previous 5 hours 40 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes, or 20 minutes faster.
2. Argo Sindoro train with train number 12, Gambir - Semarang Tawang from the previous 5 hours 37 minutes to 5 hours 17 minutes, or the difference in time is 20 minutes.
3. Argo Muria train with train number 13, the Semarang Tawang - Gambir connection from the previous 5 hours 44 minutes to 5 hours 24 minutes, or the time difference is 20 minutes.
4. Argo Muria train with train number 14, Gambir - Semarang Tawang connection from the previous 5 hours 41 minutes to 5 hours 21 minutes, or the difference in time is 20 minutes.
5. Bima train with train number 75, the Surabaya Gubeng - Gambir connection from the previous 11 hours 35 minutes to 11 hours 10 minutes, or the difference in time is 25 minutes.
6. Bima train with train number 76, the Gambir - Surabaya Gubeng connection from the previous 11 hours 31 minutes to 11 hours 1 minute, or the time difference is 30 minutes.
7. Sembrani Train with train number 77, the Surabaya Pasarturi - Gambir connection from the previous 9 hours 32 minutes to 9 hours 2 minutes, or the time difference is 30 minutes.
8. Sembrani Train with train number 78, Gambir - Surabaya Pasarturi connection from the previous 9 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours 0 minutes, or the time difference is 30 minutes.
9. Turangga Train with train number 79, the Surabaya Gubeng - Bandung connection from the previous 10 hours 49 minutes to 10 hours 19 minutes, or the time difference is 30 minutes.
10. Turangga Train with train number 80, the Bandung - Surabaya Gubeng connection from the previous 10 hours 49 minutes to 10 hours 18 minutes, or the time difference is 31 minutes.

Furthermore, Martinus said that the travel time acceleration was achieved through infrastructure improvements by KAI and the Directorate General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation. The repairs were carried out on various routes such as Ciawi - Ciamis, Banjar - Kroya, and Blitar - Kertosono.

Improvements made include building double-track railways, improving the quality of railroad materials, upgrading signaling systems, engineering arch geometries, and improving the quality of rail and bridge maintenance. With the improvements, the maximum travel speed of the 10 trains has increased from the previous 105 km per hour to up to 120 km per hour.

"Although there is an increase in speed, KAI always prioritizes the safety of train travel," he said.

He added that the shorter travel time also affected changes to the train departure schedule. KAI urges prospective customers to check and re-assure the departure time listed on the ticket.

"Hopefully, through the acceleration of travel times on a number of these trains, KAI will always be a fast, safe, comfortable, and reliable public transportation mode," said Martinus.