Jakarta MRT built with help from Taiwanese companies

Passengers on trial run of Jakarta MRT. (By Central News Agency)

(By Keoni Everington,Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2019/02/27 17:24) The Indonesian capital of Jakarta’s first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line will officially become operational at the end of March, thanks in part to Taiwanese companies, reported CNA.

Jakarta’s first MRT line, which opens to the public in late March, is the first stage on the North-South route from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to Hotel Indonesia in downtown Jakarta. The total length of the new section is 16 kilometers and takes about 30 minutes to complete.

After a test ride on Feb. 26, Riki, a public relations officer for the Jakarta MRT told CNA that more than 16,000 passengers have already ridden the train on a trial basis since November of last year. Riki said that before the new MRT line officially opens, passengers can register online to take trial rides until March 12.

Riki said that the official opening date is still pending final approval by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, but it is expected to be some time at the end of March. In the future, one six-car train will be able to carry 1,800 passengers per trip.

The line will operate from 5 a.m. to to 12 a.m. every day and during rush hour, with trains operating at five-minute intervals.

Muhamad Kamaluddin, an official from the Jakarta MRT, told CNA that many countries participated in the construction of the MRT system. He said many of the projects were managed by Japanese and Indonesian contractors, but Taiwanese manufacturers also participated.

For example, Kamaluddin said that hardware for the ticketing system was handled by Japanese and Indonesian contractors, while the software and backend was created in cooperation with Taiwanese companies.