Supermarket in Commuter Train

Lihat Peta Lebih Besar

                Every morning thousand people from outskirt of Jakarta must struggle to come in their office on time. Many years ago they depended on only limited transportation facilities, like private car, bus and motor cycle.  Few people went by poor train, dirty and often delay. They must prepare around two or three hours before they can arrive on time in their office. Since 2008 there was a great change.

listen to ‘Jakarta Suburban Train’ on Audioboo

                On 2008 Indonesia government built double track rail at most of outskirt lanes. There was changing how people move from home to their office.  Every morning they don’t need to prepare long time to arrive in their office. It just takes 30 minutes or one hour. People just go to nearest station and waiting around 5 minute to catch commuter or suburban train.

                In beginning of its operation, only few people switched from private car and bus to commuter train. Many people worried about their safety because many accidents in train before. They don’t know how train operator served its customers. It took almost two years when people realized changing on suburban transportation.

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                When more passengers enjoyed train service and told their experience to colleges, another people followed to switch their vehicle. According to train operator there are around new 50.000 passengers in the train. Commuter train has attracted people. It is fastest transportation for those who live about 50 kilometers until 100 kilometers outskirt of Jakarta.

                Now train operator increase their commuter train service. They import more coach to multiply train schedule. Train range schedule is every 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes after 09.00 am. It will be shorten in every 10 minutes and 15 minutes.

                However among suburban trains, there is cheapest train. Its cost is only Rp 1,500, or less than 10 cent US dollar for single trip, beside Rp 6,000 (around 70 cents US dollars) for air conditioned coach. Government still operated this train to help poor people to access public transport. Government subsidized this train operation cost.

It is called economic train but people often call Supermarket Train. Why did people call it?

                When passenger comes in the coach, they will see many people selling inside. They offer from food, fruit, newspaper, cigarette, drink, household utensils, book, and so on. Most of products come from China, even fruit. If you want to see how great China economic you just see and seat in this Supermarket Train.

                People enjoy this train when they want to go to Jakarta and in the same time they want to buy something without they have to go to market. Or, sometime people fail to get air conditioned train, they choose Supermarket Train because this train come earlier.

                So, let’s enjoy one of Jakarta side through Supermarket Train.