Heaptalk, Jakarta — The autonomous rail transit (ART) system, known as the rail-less train, will begin operations in the Nusantara Capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan on August 5, 2024.
Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the ART will operate along the route circling Jalan Sumbu Kebangsaan in IKN, starting from the center of Sumbu Kebangsaan and then looping clockwise to the East and West Axis.
The rail-less train will operate at a 40 km/h cruising speed. Budi Karya aims for the headway, or waiting time, at each ART tram stop to be only 5 minutes. Furthermore, Budi Karya explained that one autonomous tram-train in IKN will have three cars and a maximum capacity of 302 passengers.
“The Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) will soon build shelters to support the operation of the autonomous tram. These shelters will serve as boarding and alighting points for passengers and will also function as charging stations,” said Budi Karya.
The ART operates using batteries supplemented by road markings and magnets, making this vehicle effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
Budi also mentioned that President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo plans to ride the rail-less train on August 5. After that, the rail-less train service provider will offer free rides until the end of the year.
“We will provide two trainsets, each with three cars, that will loop from Sumbu Kebangsaan, West Axis, and East Axis, with a five-minute runway. Hopefully, this autonomous tram can become one of the smart transportation icons in the IKN area. It is also hoped that the autonomous tram can be applied in other cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, and Medan.” The Minister concluded.
