Mutiara Selatan Train
The Mutiara Selatan train currently serves mixed-class travel, including the executive class, business, and economy class. The trip specifically connects the city of Bandung and Malang through Surabaya. This train operates under the management of Operations II Regional Bandung, serving an intercity travel, and has relation with Bandung Hall Station as well as Malang Kotabaru Station. Every day, Mutiara Selatan can transport up to 9,000 passengers.
The journey from Bandung to Malang and vice versa takes 720 kilometers. With such span, it took 14.5 to 15.5 hours to arrive at the destination—with an average speed of 60-100 kilometers per hour. The duration also includes some stopover at the stop station. The main stop stations for Mutiara Selatan train are Lawang Station, Bangil, Sidoarjo, Surabaya Gubeng, Mojokerto, Jombang, Kertosono, Nganjuk, Madiun, Solo Balapan, Yogyakarta, Kutoarjo, Kebumen, Gombong, Kroja, Banjar, Ciamis, Tasikmalaya, Cipeundeuy, and Kiaracondong station.
As a mixed class train, Mutiara Selatan provides complete facilities to pamper every passenger. Each class passenger would at least have an air conditioner, TV, toilet, cabin baggage, and the electrical socket. The dining service is available at an additional cost and can be booked through the train attendants. Especially in the executive class, the passenger seats have a more comfortable and luxurious design, equipped with armrests, adjustable backrest, footrests, reading lights, folding tables, as well as pillow and blanket.
With the availability of the passenger classes, Mutiara Selatan’s train tickets are varied. The lowest fares are available for economy class passengers, with a range of Rp185.000-Rp250,000 per passenger. For its Business class passengers, Mutiara Selatan train tickets are sold with a price range of Rp270.000-Rp340.000 per passenger. Meanwhile, the highest rates are available for the Executive class, with a price range of Rp360.000-Rp465.000 per passenger. The price is also adjusted to the subclass, seating position in the train, booking period, and train departure time.
Mutiara Selatan train serves the frequency of trip as much as once a day—round trip. The journey from Malang Kotabaru Station is available at 16.30. For a 16 hours and 3 minutes long trip, the train will arrive in Bandung Station Hall at 08:30 the next morning. On the other hand, if Mutiara Selatan departs from Bandung Hall Station, it leaves at 16:50 in the afternoon. The trip takes about 16 hours and 48 minutes long, so it is scheduled to arrive at Malang Kotabaru Station at 9:38 in the next morning.
Interesting Info about Mutiara Selatan Train
The History of The Train
The Mutiara Selatan is one of those trains that changed the service class frequently. At the beginning of its operation, i.e. since August 17, 1972, Mutiara Selatan serves the executives and business class travel. By mid-October 1999, its business class service is removed. On September 28, 2016, the Indonesian Railways Company through the Regional Operations II, transform Mutiara Selatan into serving a special economy class. Not even one month, this train back on serving business class. By mid-March 2017, the service is added to the executive class. Starting from 26 April 2017, the Mutiara Selatan train serves a trip for the executive, business, and economy class.
The Train Set
To serve its passengers, Mutiara Selatan train operates with a series of Locomotive CC206. The train set consists of four latest economic class wagons, one dining car, one power car, two baggage cars, three business class wagons, three executive class wagons. The Mutiara Selatan had used the New Image economy train set in 2016 but only lasted for two weeks. Passengers often complain that the new train set is not comfortable for long-haul travel despite its luxurious design.