TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) president director Ignasius Johan said the public service obligation (PSO) in railway sector will be fully redirected from middle-long distance rout to short distance route.

“The PSO is insufficient,” said Johan.

According to Johan. the PSO budget of Rp1.5 trillion (US$125 million) will be allocated for local trains, such as Jabodetabek Commuter Line, Prambanan Ekspress (Prameks), Surabaya-Sidoarjo trains and others. However, the PSO is still allocated for middle-long distance trains in Sumatera since the number of passengers is considerably low.

PT KAI spokesperson Agus Komarudin said the PSO reallocation is to be applied on January 1, 2015. The ticket price mechanism will use partial tariff system, depending on the distance covered by each passenger.

Agus took an example of the Matarmaja train serving Jakarta-Malang route with 881 kilometers distance. To cover 0-350 kilometers, the lowest price is set at Rp70,000 (US$5.8) and the highest price is set at Rp120,000 (US$10). Meanwhile, for a trip that covers more than 520 kilometers the lowest price is set at Rp115,000 (US$9.5) and the highest price is set at Rp200,000 (US$16.6).

“This price system has been applied since October 2, 2014,” Agus said.

MAYA NAWANGWULAN