Jabodebek LRT to Begin Commercial Operation in July

The Greater Jakarta light rail transit train serving the Jakarta area of Bogor, Depok and Bekasi is expected to kick off its commercial operation in July as the readiness of the LRT operation has reached 88.8 percent.

KOMPAS/HELENA FRANSISCA NABABAN

Several Jabodebek LRT trains are parked in the stabling area at the Jabodebek LRT depot, Jatimulyo, East Bekasi, West Java, Tuesday (17/1/2023). The LRT, which serves three cross-services, will be ready to operate commercially in July 2023.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — After five years of preparation, the LRT Jabodebek is expected to begin commercial operation in July 2023. The dynamic testing of train facilities and the testing of automation technology for operations is still ongoing with the readiness to operate of 88.4 percent.

Head of the LRT Division of the state-owned train operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Mochamad Purnomosidi, briefed journalists on the readiness of the LRT operation at the LRT Jabodebek depot in Jatimulya, Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday (17/1/2023). During the event, he said that the LRT train was 88.4 percent ready for commercial operation as almost all the rail construction works had been completed.

Furthermore, the LRT was currently conducting tests to eliminate the need for a driver. The train will be driven by an automation system.

The LRT is the first rail-based urban public transportation system that will be operated using a communication-based train control (CBTC) system with grade of automation (GoA) level 3. The CBTC system can operate trains and project schedules automatically from the operation control center and without a driver.

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"Even without a driver, there are still officers, who are called train attendants, to provide services to customers and if needed for handling in emergency condition," said the LRT Jabodebek’s spokesman and public relations manager Kuswardojo.

The system is implemented on three LRT services. These are service lines Cibubur-Cawang service line 1, Cawang-Dukuh Atas service line 2 and Cawang-Jatimulya service line 3, to East Bekasi.

The system is currently under progress. The testing for service line 1 has been completed. Purnomosidi said that the testing for service line 1 was even attended by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the end of December 2022. "Now we are shifting to service line 2," he said.

Even without a driver, there are still officers, who are called train attendants, to provide services to customers and if needed for handling in emergency condition.

The Jabodebek LRT test team will also soon complete the testing at the service line 3 and the train depot. In addition, a dynamic train testing is also under way.

After this test, in March-April, 31 train sets will be driven across the service line as part of the final test. The test will be followed by a commissioning train operation in May-early July in which the Jabodebek LRT will apply standard operating procedures (SOP) for passenger services as will be implemented when it operates commercially in July 2023.

"So, we, LRT stakeholders, are optimistic that in July we can operate it for commercial purposes in accordance with what President Joko Widodo said some time ago," said Purnomosidi.

HELENA FRANSISCA NABABAN

An officer inspects the Jabodebek LRT train series parked in the Light Maintenance area or light routine maintenance area at the Jabodebek LRT depot, Jatimulyo, East Bekasi, West Java, Tuesday (17/1/2023).

Certification

Kuswardojo further said the Jabodebek LRT would operate 31 train sets. Currently at the depot, there are 28 train sets, with 27 trains having so far received certification from the Railways Directorate General of the Transportation Ministry

Each Jabodebek LRT set consists of six trains. The Jabodebek LRT is capable of carrying 1,308 passengers per day.

"The Jabodebek LRT will serve the public from 5 a.m. to 11.27 p.m. Later, the Jabodebek LRT will serve an average of 434 train trips per day with an initial target of 137,000 passengers per day," he said.

With the GoA CBTC level 3 system, the Jabodebek LRT train is designed to operate with a headway or arrival and departure time every 4 minutes at Dukuh Atas-Cawang Station, every 8 minutes at Jatimulya-Cawang Station, and every 8 minutes at Harjamukti-Cawang Station.

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On the three Jabodebek LRT service lines, there are 18 stations operating to serve the public. The stations are Dukuh Atas Station, Setiabudi, Rasuna Said, Kuningan, Pancoran, Cikoko, Ciliwung, Cawang, TMII, Kampung Rambutan, Ciracas, Harjamukti, Halim, Jatibening Baru, Cikunir I, Cikunir II, West Bekasi, and Jatimulya.

These stations are integrated with other modes of transportation to make it easier for people to switch between them. Jabodebek LRT stations are spread in strategic locations ranging from residential areas, shopping areas, to business areas, making it easier for people to use the Jabodebek LRT.

Users, according to Kuswardojo, can use bank-issued electronic money cards (KUE), KAI multi-trip cards (KMT) or digital wallets when they want to use the Jabodebek LRT service.

"We implement a cashless system," said Kudwardojo.

We implement a cashless system

As for the operation of the Jabodebek LRT, according to Presidential Regulation No. 49 of 2017, KAI has been assigned as the operator of the Jabodebek LRT facilities and infrastructure, including the provision of facilities, operation of facilities and infrastructure, maintenance of facilities and infrastructure and organizing automatic ticket systems (automatic flare collections).

KAI as the Jabodebek LRT operator is currently preparing various aspects for the smooth operation of this modern transportation, including the preparation of the human resources (HR), which can ensure the safety and smooth operation of the Jabodebek LRT.

Aside from the HR, KAI has also thoroughly prepared Jabodebek LRT depots so that they can be effectively used to store, inspect, maintain and repair supporting facilities and components for the Jabodebek LRT.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.