Jember, East Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia's railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia Operation Area 9 Jember, East Java, has tightened train travel requirements, with the government extending Level 4 Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in various regions until August 16, 2021.
"The regulation for train travel refers to Circular Letter of the COVID-19 Task Force No. 17 of 2021. The circular concerns requirements for travel for locals during the pandemic," Vice President of KAI for the Operational Area (Daop) 9 Jember Broer Rizal noted in a press release on Friday.
Rizal confirmed that the more stringent train travel requirements will come into effect from August 13, 2021, both for long-distance and local trains.
"One of the tightened requirements is that passengers under the age of 12 are temporarily not allowed to travel on long-distance trains," he noted.
In addition, passengers are required to show a vaccine card of at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination.
Passengers with special health conditions or comorbidities that prevent them from receiving the vaccine must attach a doctor's certificate from a government hospital stating that the person concerned has not received the vaccine and/or cannot be vaccinated.
"Passengers must also show a certificate of negative results for a RT-PCR test conducted a maximum of 2x24 hours or a rapid antigen test conducted a maximum of 1x24 hours prior to departure," Rizal remarked.
Meanwhile, local train rides are only available for workers in the essential and critical sectors after showing their Employee Registration Certificates (STRP) or other certificates issued by the local government or assignment letters from company leaders.
"Passengers are not required to show vaccine cards and certificates of negative results from the RT-PCR test or antigen rapid test, but random antigen rapid tests will be conducted on passengers at the station," Rizal noted.
He explained that passengers, failing to meet the requirements, will not be allowed to board the train, and the ticket amount will be fully refunded.
"We always support all government policies during the pandemic to suppress the spread of COVID-19, most importantly in rail transportation," Rizal affirmed.
During PPKM, KAI Daop 9 Jember only operated the Sritanjung Train, Tawangalun Train, and Probowangi Train.