"Starting October 1, PT KAI will implement a 100-percent seated passenger policy in its executive, business and economy class trains on long haul trips. All passengers with valid tickets will be assured of seats, we will no longer have standing passengers in our long-distance trains," Bambang Setya Prayitno, the company`s spokesman, said here Wednesday.
Previously, the company had been selling tickets in numbers beyond the trains` seating capacities so that many passengers with tickets had to stand or sit in inappropriate manner during the journey, he said.
"The policy of not selling no-seat tickets on long distance routes is to be implemented to provide better security and better service to passengers," said Bambang.
As for trains on medium distance routes, no-seat tickets would still be sold but to a maximum of 125 percent of the number of available seats.
"In our view, with only 25 percent of passengers standing medium distance train trips will still be comfortable," he said.
The same policy would apply to commuter trains with the understanding that each car would carry a maximum of 178 passengers.
"Business and executive class train passengers are advised to buy tickets well before their departure dates because seats reservations can be made online as early as 40 days before departure. Economic train tickets can be ordered seven days before departure," said Bambang.
In the future, ticket checks will be more strict, and passengers without tickets will be ordered to leave the train at the next station, he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
