(malangkota.go.id) – PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has opened a medium/long-distance train ticket booking service for the 2020 Christmas and 2021 New Year holiday period. The public can now book these tickets via the KAI Access application, the official website. kai.id, as well as other official online sales channels.
The public does not need to hesitate in using train transportation, because KAI continues to operate trains by implementing various health protocols strictly and with discipline at all times from the station and on the train and during the journey.
"We have opened ticket reservations for people who want to travel during the Christmas and New Year holidays online, while still implementing strict Covid-19 prevention health protocols," said Public Relations Manager of PT KAI Daop 8 Surabaya, Suprapto, Friday (27/11/2020).
PT KAI Daop 8 Surabaya during the 2019 Christmas and 2020 New Year holidays will operate 29 Regular Medium/Long Distance Trains. As for the initial departure stations, they are centered on 3 large class stations, namely Malang Station with 6 Medium/Long Distance Trains, Pasar Turi Station with 7 Medium/Long Distance Trains and Surabaya Gubeng Station with 16 Medium/Long Distance Trains (8 Early Departure Trains and 8 passing Trains).
"The destinations of the 29 medium/long distance trains include 12 trains to Jakarta, 5 trains to Bandung, 7 trains to Jember/Ketapang, and 1 train each to Cirebon, Lempuyangan, Semarang, Cilacap and Purwokerto," Suprapto added.
KAI's consistency in implementing health protocols in the railway environment has been recognized. This is proven by obtaining the SIBV Safe Guard Label which has referred to parameters compiled by experts and auditors of the BV Head Office, international best practices, the World Health Organization (WHO), regulations of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Covid-19 Acceleration Handling Task Force.
During the pandemic, Suprapto explained, KAI is committed to selling long-distance and local train tickets for only 70% of the available seating capacity to create physical distancing in accordance with the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Transportation Number SE 14 of 2020 dated June 8, 2020.
"In addition, long-distance train passengers are required to be in good health (not suffering from flu, colds, coughs, fever), body temperature not more than 37,3 degrees Celsius, and are advised to wear long-sleeved clothing or jackets," he explained.
Customers are also required to show a valid Covid-19 Free Certificate (PCR Test/Rapid Test) (14 days since issuance) or a certificate stating that they are free from influenza-like illness symptoms issued by a Hospital/Community Health Center doctor for areas that do not have PCR Test and/or Rapid Test facilities.
As an effort to improve services in implementing health protocols, KAI Daop 8 Surabaya provides rapid test services for Rp85.000 at 5 stations, namely, Surabaya Gubeng, Surabaya Pasarturi, Malang, Sidoarjo and Mojokerto. "If done at the Station, the public is advised to do a rapid test at least H-1 departure date. The goal is to avoid queues and rushing on the day of departure," explained Suprapto.
For further information regarding train operations at the end of 2020, the public can contact the KAI Contact Center by telephone at (021) 121, email cs@kai.id, or KAI121 social media.
Suprapto saw that people have started to trust the train transportation mode again. This can be seen from the volume of customers which has continued to show a positive trend in the last 3 months. In September 293.425 passengers/month, in October 354.695 passengers/month and in November 2020 it is predicted to reach 370.000 passengers/month. "There is no need to hesitate to take the train, because KAI has implemented various health protocols strictly and with discipline at all times," concluded Suprapto. (say/yon)
