Train Passengers Up 44 Percent

Jakarta (Antara) - The number of train passengers in this year's Idul Fitri holidays increased 44 percent from 345,462 last year to 497,000, Spokesman of railway company PT Kereta Api (KAI) for Region I Operation, Sukendar Mulya said. "The number of passengers in the period from 10 days before Idul Fitri (D-10) to four days after Idul Fitri (D-4) reached 497,000, up 44 percent from 345,467 in the same period last year," the PT KAI spokesman said here on Wednesday. The passenger departed through four railway stations of Gambir, Senen, Kota and Tanjung Priok. "Returning train passengers also increased by five percent of those who were going home for Idul Fitri. This happened because many passengers bring friends to Jakarta," he said. He said that the peak of returning flows of travelers took place last weekend. However, he predicted that the second peak of returning passenger flows would happen next weekend. "This is because daily workers and students will begin activities on Monday (Aug. 19)," Sukendar said. On Wednesday, returning Idul Fitri travelers passing through Gambir Station, Central Jakarta, were decreasing in numbers. PT KAI Operation Region I, said 3,551 travelers arrived at Gambir on Wednesday, and there were 1,802 departures. Sukendar Mulya predicted the number of returning Idul Fitri travelers will continue to decline. He believed the station had already seen its peak number of arrivals a few days ago. On Tuesday (Aug. 13), 12,362 travelers arrived at Gambir Station, while on Monday (Aug. 12), the station recorded as many as 11.707 travelers; on Sunday (Aug. 11), at least 12,898 travelers arrived at the station. To ensure smooth service for the passage of thousands of travelers during the Idul Fitri holidays, Gambir Station has been operating 26 regular trains and eight additional trains. Most of the trains are executive class, and the remaining 20 percent are business-class trains. Yenny Marlinda, an Idul Fitri traveler who arrived at Gambir Station on Tuesday said she and her family had returned to Jakarta because she is due to resume work on Wednesday. "My children will start attending school on Wednesday too," explained Yenny. (*)