KAI: 101 units of water station facilities are available at train stations
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) recently hosted the 44th ASEAN Railway CEO (ARCEOs') Conference in Bandung from September 2-5, 2024, with the theme "Driving Sustainability with Digital Innovation."
One of the key highlights of the conference was the introduction of KAI's eco-friendly facilities at its train stations to the attending delegates. This included the water stations (drinking water tanks) provided at long-distance and urban train stations - a concrete step by KAI to support social and environmental sustainability (SDGs).
During the conference, KAI's President Director, Didiek Hartantyo, encouraged all participants to bring their own reusable, non-plastic water bottles (tumblers) as part of the campaign to reduce single-use plastic waste.
"We want to convey that the transportation sector, including KAI, must also play an active role in preserving environmental sustainability," said Didiek, as quoted in KAI's written statement.
Didiek mentioned that the water station facilities are currently available at 77 train stations in Java and Sumatra, with an additional 31 units at the Whoosh high-speed train and LRT Jabodebek stations.
In addition to promoting the use of reusable tumblers, the ASEAN railway CEOs attending the ARCEOs' 2024 conference were also invited to experience the Whoosh, Southeast Asia's first high-speed train. They took a ride from Padalarang Station (West Java) to Halim Station (Jakarta).
The 8 CEOs were from Keretaapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (Malaysia), Vietnam Railways (Vietnam), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Cambodia), Lao National Railways (Laos), Philippine National Railways (Philippines), Myanma Railways (Myanmar), and the State Railway of Thailand (Thailand).
Since its operation on October 17, 2023, Whoosh has served more than 200,000 passengers from 154 countries, with 137,000 of them from Southeast Asia, including 85,000 from Malaysia.
"Indonesia is leading the railway sector in Southeast Asia. One indicator is that Indonesia has become a pioneer in operating high-speed trains in the region," said Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, President Director of KCIC, the operator of Whoosh, in a written statement.
During the conference, the ASEAN railway CEOs were also briefed on Whoosh's journey, from its construction to its eventual operation in mid-October 2023.
In his opening remarks at the ARCEOs' Conference, the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, stated that the development of the railway sector in Indonesia is on the right track, with significant progress. This is reflected in the operation of Whoosh, which has become a talking point not only in Indonesia but also in other Asian and European countries.
The Minister of Transportation hopes that all parties will make the most of this momentum by fostering closer cooperation and relationships with one another.
In addition to Whoosh, the development of the railway sector in Indonesia has also been seen in urban areas, such as the MRT Jakarta, LRT Jabodebek, and LRT Palembang, as well as the latest autonomous tram system in the new capital city (IKN), which has already passed the trial phase.
