"By God's will, (it will be inaugurated) probably on August 26," he said at the Dukuh Atas LRT Station, Jakarta, on Thursday, after a trial ride on the Jabodebek Bekasi LRT train from Jati Mulya Station, Bekasi, West Java.
After riding the LRT, the president said that the LRT train is good and can operate commercially at the end of August 2023.
"At the end of the month, it can operate," he noted.
The head of state ensured that the Jabodebek LRT would prioritize security and safety aspects for passengers.
Unlike the LRT, Jokowi also noted that the trial of the Jakarta-Bandung fast train would only be conducted again in September 2023.
"The trial for the fast train probably will start in September. Once everything is ready, we will confirm it. The sooner it is operated, the better,” he said.
Apart from ministers and local government officials, the president also invited social media influencers and artists to ride the Jabodebek LRT.
After arriving at Jati Mulya Station at around 8:30 local time, Jokowi held a brief discussion with influencers before taking the escalator to enter the LRT car.
The Bekasi LRT line starts from Jati Mulya and passes through 14 stations before arriving at the final stop at Dukuh Atas Station, Central Jakarta.
LRT is an integrated transportation mode in which the train series is produced by state-owned rolling stock company PT INKA and the infrastructure development is carried out by state-owned construction company PT Adhi Karya Persero Tbk. (ADHI). The domestic component level (TKDN) for the LRT project is over 60 percent.
Jabodebek LRT uses more advanced technology than that for the Jakarta MRT or South Sumatra LRT, namely the 3rd generation or Grade of Automation (GoA) Level 3. The application of this technology allows trains to be operated without a train driver and regulates the distance between trains to be closer while maintaining constant safe distance.
A series of tests had been conducted since 2022 and began to be intensified in May 2023.
It is planned that the Jabodebek LRT limited trial operation will be conducted from July 12 to August 2023 and is targeted to be commercially operational in August 2023.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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