Jabodebek LRT to commence trial run on 18 October
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily: LRT Jabodebek diuji coba mulai 18 Oktober
14 October 2019
By: Thresa Sandra Desfika
Jakarta – The government stated that trial run on Cibubur-Cawang route of Jabodebek (Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Bekasi) Light Rail Transit (LRT) would commence on 18 October 2019. This trial run is conducted after an LRT train was lifted on Sunday (13/10) onto the Jabodebek LRT tracks and after the Cawang-Cibubur route construction progress has surpassed 85%.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan explained that Jabodebek LRT service was divided into three routes, namely Cawang-Cibubur, Cawang-Kuningan-Dukuh Atas, and Cawang-East Bekasi. However, the trial run, which is planned to be conducted on 18 October 2019, will be on the Cawang-Cibubur route. Then, it will also be implemented on other routes until it is operational in November 2021.
“The trial run will commence on 18 October 2019 from Cibubur to Cawang. For the next stages, we hope that by November 2021, all of them will be finished,” Luhut revealed during the first Jabodebek LRT train lifting procession at Harjamukti LRT Station in Cibubur, Jakarta on Sunday (13/10).
He mentioned that the first stage of the trial run on the Cawang-Cibubur route of Jabodebek LRT and for the first train would go for a month. Later, the trains produced by PT Inka are set to arrive with a frequency of a train each month. The number of Jabodebek LRT trains that have been prepared are 31 units. A train consist of six carriages with a total capacity of 1,500 passengers per carriage.
Luhut mentioned that Jabodebek LRT was made by Indonesian citizens. It is the result of a collaboration between PT Inka and PT LEN with 60% local content. It utilises a third-generation technology, which is better than the technology of mass rapid transit (MRT).
“It uses the moving block signalling system, which makes [the signalling system] simpler. Its technology is more advanced than MRT. So, Transportation Minister Budi, in the last 2 to 3 years, has been in intense cooperation with the team to realise all of this,” Luhut added.
During the occasion, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi mentioned that, when Jabodebek LRT was fully operational, its tariff would be Rp12 thousand per passenger. The tariff is already subsidised by the government as its commercial tariff reaches Rp25 thousand per passenger.
“The tariff of Rp12 thousand per customer applies on all routes. The government subsidises almost half [of the tariff]. There may be changes to the tariff, but that is the temporary decision,” the Transportation Minister mentioned.
66.13% Progress
Meanwhile, PT Adhi Karya President Director Budi Harto said that construction progress of infrastructure for Jabodebek LRT, as of 4 October 2019, had reached 66.13% overall. Infrastructure construction for Cawang-Cibubur route has reached 85.7%, Cawang-Kuningan-Dukuh Atas has reached 56.1%, and Cawang-East Bekasi has reached 59.9%.
He added that, on Wednesday (9/10), Adhi Karya had received the fourth payment for the first stage of Jabodebek LRT construction worth Rp1.4 trillion (including taxes) from PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) as the manager of Jabodebek LRT Project. The payment is made based on the progress of the first stage of Jabodebek LRT construction from October 2018 to March 2019.
“Payment for Jabodebek LRT is made by the government through PT KAI based on the construction progress that has been evaluated and checked by BPKP (Financial and Development Supervisory Agency),” Budi Harto revealed.
Meanwhile, transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno mentioned that the track construction on Cawang-Cibubur route spanning 14.95 kilometres was finished. However, it has not been fitted with facilities for signalling, telecommunications, and electricity. Hence, it is normal for the overall operational target to be set in 2021.
“Station building construction has yet to reach 50%. Besides that, access to stations, public transportation facilities, and parking for motor and non-motor vehicles have yet to be seen,” Djoko revealed.
He added that, to be truly ready for operation, the government did not have to be in a hurry to operate Jabodebek LRT before everything was ready. According to him, proficient and reliable human resources are required. Human resources are currently being prepared by PT KAI with SMRT Singapore by educating personnel that will operate Jabodebek LRT. Besides the ones having an internship at PT KCI, human resources have visited and trained in several countries that have operated LRT.
“Depots to tend and store trains when they are not operational are absent. For the time being, at the end of Harjamukti Station [in Cibubur], there is a pitstop which can store two LRT trains. Depot construction in East Bekasi is still hampered by land acquisition,” Djoko revealed.
