PT Inka Wants to Produce Rapid Trains

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - PT Kereta Api (Persero) wants to increase the production of train types, namely train semifast and fast train with the construction of new plant in 2018 in Banyuwangi, East Java.

"We are going to go there if we look at the current market developments, for example, as the now semi-fast Jakarta-Surabaya train if not develop it, we are not invited to tender," said Managing Director of PT Inka M Nur Sodiq when met in Jakarta on Monday (8/1/2017)

Sodiq explained that in terms of capacity, 72 percent has been done with human resources (HR) in the country.

"For the manufacture of passenger or freight trains, we have` khatam 'the term, but for trains driven, for capability, we are capable, for example airport train that can compete with other countries, mastery of almost 72 percent, "he said.

Technologically the train body, he added, it will also develop from ordinary steel carbon steel, stainless steel, then to the lighter aluminum.

"The technology that way, we have to master it, now is the era of` medium speed train 'and `high speed train', the science must be added again," he said.

He said that in capacity, the plant in Banyuwangi is four times the size of those in Madiun.

"Our target is three trains per day, which means twice the size of the one in Madiun, which is 1.5 trains per day," he said.

Sodiq added that currently in the feasibility study phase and land acquisition has been fully completed.

He mentioned there are two stages in the process, namely Phase 1 and Phase 2, where Phase 1 requires an investment of Rp600 billion and Phase 2 of about Rp400 billion, so the total is Rp1 trillion. "We are targeting to operate around mid-2019," he said.

Inka Bambang Kushendarto, Executive Vice President Inka Bambang Kushendarto, said that in the increasing specification of the train, it will also hold experts from countries that have already developed rapid train technology, such as Japan and Germany.

"There are several options, it can be Japan, Germany because we have also partnered with them," he said.

Increased production capacity should be made by Inka due to market demand, especially the ever increasing overseas market, such as Bangladesh.

In addition to foreign markets, he added, domestic demand was increasing, such as for LRT Palembang and Jabodebek and long-distance trains PT KAI. (Ant)