TEMPO.CO, Madiun - State Railway Operator PT KAI's Madiun Operational Branch has applied a new automated check-in and boarding pass process at Madiun's Main Station and Kediri Station, beginning on Thursday, June 23, 2016. Under the new scheme, passengers will be able to self-check in using an automated system after purchasing their tickets, from 12 hours prior to their scheduled departure time - after which they will be issued boarding passes bearing their names, booking reference number, train name and destination, as well as the estimated time of boarding and departure.

The automated system is claimed to be able to process passengers quicker by 10 seconds, compared to the older, automated method. "We have prepared two machines for this purpose - and the entire process takes about 5 seconds," said the Public Relations Manager for Madiun's Operational Branch of PT KAI, Supriyanto on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

According to Supriyanto, with the new system in place, all that passengers need to do is scan their tickets - after which their boarding passes will be printed. "This boarding pass will be used to cross-verify their identities by our onboard staff, once the passengers have boarded the carriages," he said.

That said, continued Supriyanto, passengers who did not book their tickets ahead of time will have to use the older automated system - as passengers who booked their tickets on the day of their departure will be immediately issued their boarding passes right after they purchased their tickets.

Supriyanto explained that the new system will help authorities to prevent passengers who do not have tickets from boarding the trains, as the new boarding passes will have the passenger's name and identity printed on it to make it easier for patrol officers to verify.

Ricky Wirakanda, a passenger at Madiun's Main Station, said that the new and improved check in system is much more user friendly and efficient compared to the older system. "I don't have to manually input my information - all I need to do is scan my ticket and my boarding pass gets immediately issued," he said.

NOFIKA DIAN NUGROHO