Kalijaga Train
Kalijaga Train is an economy class train operated by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) in Java Island with the Semarang-Solo route from Poncol Station to Solo Balapan Station. Travel a distance of about 114 km, the journey of the two cities can be taken in about 2.5-3 hours at a speed of 50-90 km/hour.
The Kalijaga train is a replacement for the Pandanwangi train and the Banyubiru train, which have been operating for a long time. This train usually carries 7 economy class trains from the Bengawan train circuit (relation to Purwosari Station - Pasar Senen Station) which are operated in the afternoon with a travel time of 2 hours 45 minutes.
The Kalijaga train will stop at Semarang Poncol Station, Semarang Tawang Station, Brumbung Station, Kedungjati Station, Gundih Station, Salem Station, and Solo Balapan Station.
The train departure schedule was launched on 15 February 2014, depart only once to and from the destination city. This is caused by the train circuit which only serves the Semarang-Solo route and there are no canals to other cities. The price of the Kalijaga Train Ticket is IDR 10,000 for a single trip.
Interesting Information about Kalijaga Train
Origin of The Name
The name of the Kalijaga train comes from the famous figure of one of the Walisongo, Sunan Kalijaga. In the context of railways, the Kalijaga tagline is "keeping the tradition", in the sense of maintaining the tradition of the Solo-Semarang railroad relationship which is the first intercity railroad connection in Java, as well as Indonesia. This train continues the relationship that has been served by the Pandanaran train, then KRD Purwosari-Pekalongan, and finally the Pandanwangi Train.
Train Facilities
The Kalijaga train is a continuation of the Joglosemar train that uses the Bengawan train series, which can carry 7 cars with a capacity of 636 passengers.
Facilities that can be enjoyed by passengers on this train are quite complete. Comfort chairs and well-functioned air conditioner. The bathroom located near the car connection can also be used at any time. There are electric sockets provided on each deck of the chair help charge a device that is running low.
The seats on this train face each other. Respectively for five passengers on the right side and four passengers on the left side. There is a place to put luggage above the seat for passengers who carry a lot of luggage.
Train History
This train was inaugurated on 15 February 2014 with an initial fare of Rp. 25,000. Due to the lack of interest in rail transportation development, this train has almost stopped its operation. It causes by the income it earned is not comparable with the operational costs for this cross-train. Moreover, this train is also not a commuter train.
But in the end, this train experienced a tariff deduction become Rp 10,000 per person for one way trip starting on October 1, 2014, after PT Kereta Api Indonesia proposed a public service obligation.
The Central Java Provincial Government then requested that the train operation be continued, because it was hoped that the Kalijaga train would connect major cities in Central Java and Yogyakarta, and become the Joglosemar's axis going forward.