KAI adds extra Semarang-Jakarta train amid Anak Krakatau eruption

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3 hours ago

Semarang (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has added a train service from Semarang to Jakarta as a precaution against a possible surge in passenger demand following the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.

The additional train will depart from Semarang Tawang Station at 8:15 p.m. local time and has a capacity of 570 seats, comprising five executive-class carriages, four economy-class carriages and a dining car, KAI’s Semarang regional public relations manager, Luqman Arif, said on Sunday.

KAI has also added carriages to the Gumarang train bound for Jakarta. Two economy-class carriages, each with a capacity of 72 seats, have been added to the Gumarang train.

Arif said the measures reflect KAI’s readiness to respond to changing travel patterns and passenger demand, particularly for journeys to Jakarta.

He assured that KAI will continue monitoring developments and passenger travel needs, adding that the additional capacity would provide more travel options and support mobility to Jakarta.

Mount Anak Krakatau erupted continuously on Friday, starting at 11:07 p.m. local time and continuing on early Sunday.

Volcanic ash from the eruption had been observed spreading through the atmosphere across five provinces, Banten, West Java, Jakarta, Lampung and Bengkulu, Head of the Geological Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Lana Saria, said in Bandung.

The direction and extent of the volcanic ash dispersion could change depending on wind direction and speed at different altitudes, while the height of the eruption column, duration of the eruption and amount of material released could also affect its spread, she said.