Yesterday, we were glad to hear that 30 new trains arrived from Japan to add to the KRL Commuterline fleet in Jakarta. But it turned out those trains aren’t exactly new.
PT KCJ, the company that manages the KRL Commuterline, confirmed today that the trains are actually used Japanese trains. They were actually built in 1985 by Japan Railway East (JR-East).
PT KCJ justified the purchase from a financial perspective.
“Not only are the trains cheaper, but from a technical viewpoint, the [trains’] maintenance and features are suitable to the situation in Indonesia,” said PT KCJ Director SN Fadhila, as quoted by Kompas today.
Fadhila said each car costs Rp 600 million to 1 billion. New trains would’ve cost PT KCJ Rp 12 to 15 billion each.
“If we bought new trains, ticket prices would surely rise. The people of Jakarta aren’t ready if we slap a fare like Rp 50 thousand on the 60 km journey from Bogor to Kota,” she said.
Despite the fact that the trains aren’t new, Fadhila said PT KCJ guarantees their quality as the trains were still operational in Japan before they were shipped here.
Well, if we’re to buy used goods, better it come from Japan than anywhere else.
