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THE Yogyakarta-Solo commuter line inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on Monday has been operational since February 10, 2021 and making 20 trips per day.
The electric train service is currently serving Yogyakarta, Lempuyangan, Maguwo, Brambanan, Srowot, Klaten, Ceper, Delanggu, Gawok, Purwosari, and Solo Balapan stations, with a flat tariff of IDR8,000 charged per trip.
Tickets for the commuter line can be purchased using KAI Commuter’s multi-trip cards or other e-money cards. While the train will be able to carry 1,600 passengers in a single trip during normal conditions, the number of passengers has been limited to 74 per carriage on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Yogyakarta-Solo route has been served by the diesel multiple unit train of the Prambanan Express since 1994. With the commissioning of the Yogyakarta-Solo commuter line, the Prambanan Express will now serve the Kutoarjo–Yogyakarta route, making eight trips per day.
Speaking at the inauguration of the service, President Widodo said the Yogyakarta-Solo commuter line is expected to augment the mobility of people and goods.
“It is also expected to boost our tourism and other economic sectors,” he said at the ceremony, which was also attended by Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.
He lauded the Yogyakarta-Solo commuter line for using eco-friendly technology and emphasized the importance of applying such technology to other means of transportation across Indonesia.
“I think the mode of transportation in our country must be directed to eco-friendly mass rapid transit in the future. Other vehicles must also be eco-friendly,” he remarked.
According to President Widodo, the electric train service would take 10 minutes less to cover the distance between Yogyakarta and Solo compared to the diesel multiple unit train of Prambanan Express. Its operational cost is also more efficient.
Commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia has said the Yogyakarta-Solo electric multiple unit train can reach a maximum speed of 90 km per hour. Due to their richness in cultural and historical heritage as well as natural beauty, Yogyakarta and Solo city in Central Java are a huge draw for domestic and international travelers.
To bolster its tourism industry, Yogyakarta has also opened a new international airport called the Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA). [antaranews/photo special]
