Penajam Paser Utara (06/08) - The Directorate General of Railways (DJKA), Ministry of Transportation, said that the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) system is ready to be tested in the capital of the archipelago (IKN).  This was announced by the Director General of Railways, Risal Wasal, on 6 Tuesday, 6 August  2024 in the IKN area, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan.

To support this trial, Risal said that DGKA is currently conducting internal tests on ART facilities, infrastructure, and human resources (HR). This internal testing is expected to be completed by 9 August 2024.

"If all goes well, we are targeting ART to be dynamically tested (moving) on a short route (small loop) on 10 August 2024," Risal said.

The short route or small loop that Risal is referring to is a circular test route from Coordinating Ministry Building 3 to Coordinating Ministry Building 2 and back to Kemenko Building 3 in the Government Center Core Area (KIPP).

Furthermore, Risal explained that this trial was conducted to prepare for the operation of ART at the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebration on 17 August 2024 at IKN.

Risal explained that the test phase was carried out for about two months since the dynamic test. The test is intended to further determine the feasibility of ART operations. The next stage is a joint evaluation between DJKA and the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN), before being presented to the public from 10 October to 31 December 2024.

"Later, ART will stop at eight bus stops along the main section of the IKN Government Center Core Area (KIPP) and be integrated with other modes of transportation, namely Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)," Risal said. (RVP/JM/HJA/DA)