Semarang-Surabaya railway set to open



SEMARANG. State railway firm PT KAI will be launching the KA Maharani economy AC train on the direct Semarang-Surabaya route on June 1.Vice president of PT KAI IV Semarang operational area, Wawan Arianto, said the route was being launched to meet the high demand by people in Semarang who wished to travel directly to Surabaya without having to wait for trains from Jakarta."With the KA Maharani, passengers will no longer have to compete for tickets with travelers from Jakarta, Cirebon, Tegal or Pekalongan," he said on Friday.According to Wawan, the KA Maharani train comprised eight air-conditioned carriages with capacity for 846 passengers, while tickets for the journey would cost Rp 55,000 (US$4.73) per person. PT KAI IV Semarang is targeting a 70 percent occupancy rate in the first few days of operation.PT KAI is also planning to open a new service from Semarang to Cirebon, West Java, and is currently conducting a customer survey.Public relations manager for PT KAI IV Semarang, Suprapto, has asked passengers who have bought tickets for the PT KA Maharani on June 1 to recheck the departure schedule as some changes may be introduced. (fss) (Ainur Rohman)


Editor: Edy Can