YLKI Urges PT KAI Cancel Premium Train Operation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consumer's Foundation (YLKI) urged the government and management of state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) cancel the plan on operating premium trains or Premium Commuterline (KRL).

"This is a counterproductive policy for KRL users and PT KAI," said YLKI Chief Tulus Abadi in a written statement received by Tempo on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

The policy, Tulus added, could result in a drawback for PT KAI considering no commuter line in all the world has various classes such as premium, express, or else. "The [current condition] is already good, why bother to make it worse," Tulus added.

PT Kereta Api Commuter (PT KCI) previously announced that it would operate Premium KRL that would be equipped with additional facilities such as fully-seated carriages and WIFI network.

According to Tulus, Premium KRL would set aside Regular KRL because the initiative has already violated the existing standard. He feared that Premium KRL potentially violates users' rights in general.

PT KAI or PT KCI, Tulus continued, should focus on upgrading its service and infrastructure or providing more carriages. Therefore, the train headway would be shorter, have a better cabin service, and have a more precise travel time.

"So, KRL as public transportation can accommodate more passengers with its reliability and excellent service," Tulus underlined.

PT KAI spokesperson Agus Komarudin said that the plan to operate the Premium KRL was still being discussed and required further evaluation. "No regulation has been made, and there is no operational pattern, tariff, and infrastructure," Agus said.

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