Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto visited Manggarai Station in Jakarta on Tuesday to directly inspect a new train carriage designed specifically for farmers and merchants.
He arrived at the bustling station wearing a khaki shirt around 10:50 a.m., according to a livestream by the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel. Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi and state-owned railway company PT KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin accompanied him.
The special green-colored carriage features face-to-face seating and is built without armrests, hand straps, or grab poles. It also has a wider aisle than regular commuter line (KRL) carriages, allowing farmers and merchants to transport goods more conveniently.
Rasyidin informed President Prabowo that PT KAI would not charge passengers for their goods. “Our plan is to charge the passengers only, sir, not their goods,” he said.
He also briefed the president on the history and profile of Manggarai Station, one of Jakarta’s largest and busiest transport hubs.
After inspecting the special carriage and greeting residents, President Prabowo boarded a KRL train to Tanah Abang Station to inaugurate the facility’s post-renovation phase. During the short ride, he interacted with passengers.
The president was also accompanied by Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Jadi, Government Communications Agency Head Angga Raka, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Wijaya.
PT KAI has announced plans to launch special train wagons this month to help farmers and merchants transport their goods more efficiently, starting with the Rangkasbitung–Merak route.
After meeting President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace on Monday (November 3), Rasyidin confirmed that the head of state fully supported the initiative.
“He truly supports our move because it aims to help people at the grassroots level. He also encouraged us to expand the capacity of these special carriages,” Rasyidin told reporters.
He added that KAI plans to operate the carriages in the morning and afternoon to match farmers’ and merchants’ routines, with future route extensions planned up to Tanah Abang Station.
