MRT - JAKARTA. The management of PT MRT Jakarta transportation company is still mulling whether to offer women-only passenger cars in the mass rapid transit (MRT) transportation service, which is to soon start operating on its first line from South Jakarta's Lebak Bulus station to Central Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle.
MRT Jakarta president director William Sabandar said on Monday that the company would be gathering public input on the possible provision of women-only MRT passenger cars.
“We are still discussing it. We are also seeking input from the public,” William said during a visit to the Lebak Bulus MRT station.
The Greater Jakarta Commuter Line provides two women-only passenger cars per train in Greater Jakarta. The railway service is operated by PT Commuter Line Indonesia, a subsidiary of state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI). City-owned TransJakarta also provides a specific area reserved for women passengers on each of its busway buses.
William said an alternative was for MRT Jakarta to offer women-only train cars during peak hours. “The chance [for women-only passenger cars] is fifty-fifty. We might [provide the service] during rush hour. The scenario is that we provide special cars for women only,” he said, as reported by kompas.com.
He added that preparations on the MRT service had currently reached 97.5 percent. The company planned to operate an initial 14 trains along the 15.5-kilometer Lebak Bulus-HI line, while two others would be kept in reserve.
The first MRT line is expected to start operating in March 2019.
William said construction would soon begin on the second line of the MRT, running from the HI traffic circle to North Jakarta's Kampung Bandan station.
