Holiday Season Christmas and New Year, Just Travel by Train!
The Christmas and New Year holidays are getting closer. Usually, this time is used by many of us to take vacations, whether to our hometowns or to tourist destinations. Well, for those of you who want to enjoy the sensation of a holiday starting from the journey itself, you can try traveling by train.
KAI, as a railway service provider company, has launched several new trains that you must try during this year-end holiday. These trains, which went viral on social media some time ago, will make your year-end holiday begin right from the journey. You can even make your trip on these viral trains your way of spending the year-end holiday. So, your destination this time is no longer just a tourist spot, but the journey itself and enjoying the services on KAI’s new trains. So, what new trains can you try this holiday? Here is the list:
1. Panoramic Train
The Panoramic Train is the first train in Indonesia specially designed to enjoy Indonesia’s scenery. This train has very large windows on both sides and a glass roof stretching from front to back that can be automatically opened and closed.
Riding this Panoramic train can be an alternative to enjoy the Christmas and New Year holiday, because in addition to enjoying Indonesia’s beautiful nature, you can also enjoy facilities on the Panoramic train such as comfortable seats, window curtains that can be controlled remotely, a spacious toilet with automatic sensors, a television at the end wall of the train, and special luggage racks at the end of the train. Panoramic train passengers also receive special services in the form of free snacks, meals, drinks, and blankets.
The Panoramic Train can be booked on the Gambir–Bandung route (round trip) on KA Argo Parahyangan and Bandung–Surabaya Gubeng (round trip) on KA Argo Wilis and Turangga.
2. Suite Class Compartment Train
This train, inaugurated on October 10, 2023, provides a luxurious and exclusive travel experience, similar to first-class airline services. You can enjoy private service because there is only one seat in each compartment of this train. The seat can be reclined up to 180 degrees so it can function as a bed. The seat can also be rotated so passengers can adjust to the direction of travel. In addition to the headrest, leg, and body angle settings, the seat temperature can also be adjusted. The seat also has a massage feature that can be set to various massage techniques. There is also a foldable tray that can function as a dining or work table.
Next to the window there is a Train Onboard Infotainment System containing various popular movies, music of various genres, and national television channels that can be enjoyed throughout the journey. Passengers are also pampered with meal services in the form of appetizers, main courses, desserts, as well as various drinks and other special services.
For those of you who are curious to try this “sultan train” for the Christmas and New Year holiday, it can be booked on the Gambir–Surabaya Pasar Turi route (round trip) on KA Bima.
3. Executive and Luxury New Generation Train
At the end of this year, KAI also launched executive and luxury new generation trains that can be enjoyed on the Gambir–Solo Balapan route (round trip) on KA Argo Dwipangga and Argo Lawu. In these new generation train classes, you can enjoy a more stylish interior design with modern new features. The train entrance doors and inter-car connection doors already use automatic electric doors, making it easier for passengers to open and close doors and reducing noise during the process.
The Passenger Information Display System (PIDS), which shows information such as the nearest station, speed, and cabin temperature, is also available in each train. The windows of the executive and luxury new generation trains have also been upgraded to tempered double glass from previous tempered glass, providing higher safety, reducing heat and UV exposure, and better noise reduction.
For charging passengers’ gadgets, KAI adds USB charging ports at each seat, in addition to power outlets already available on the walls. These additional charging facilities allow passengers to continue using their phones, laptops, and smartwatches without worrying about battery running out, in line with modern needs. In addition, there are additional toilets in the Luxury New Generation train. If previously there was only one toilet in the luxury train, now there are two toilets in this new generation luxury train.
The dining car in this New Generation series is also upgraded to be more luxurious with premium interior and furniture. The dining car is dominated by wooden accents and softer, more comfortable dining seats. The same PIDS system is also available in the dining car.
4. Economy New Generation Train
For you economy train lovers, this holiday you can try the economy new generation train which is much more comfortable than the previous economy train. The previous economy train had 106 seats with a 3-2 seating layout, upright seats, and facing each other. It is gradually being replaced with an 80-seat economy train with a 2-2 layout and no longer facing each other. In this new generation economy train, the number of seats becomes 72, so the legroom is wider. In addition, the seats use captain seat type which makes passengers more comfortable when leaning back and can be adjusted in tilt (reclining) and can be rotated to face or follow the direction of travel.
In addition to the seats, upgrades are also made to the interior with the addition of a Public Information Display System (PIDS) that shows time and temperature. The train interior is also modified to resemble executive trains, including luggage design and a brighter interior ambiance. Toilets are also upgraded with a more luxurious feel and use seated toilets. There is also a prayer area in the restaurant car. This economy new generation train can be booked on the Pasar Senen–Malang route (round trip) on KA Jayabaya.
In addition to enjoying new experiences on these new trains, you can also enjoy new services and innovations from KAI designed to make your journey more comfortable and enjoyable. During boarding at the station, you can register to use the face recognition boarding gate service, so your boarding process becomes faster without long queues.
Face recognition is a boarding service facility equipped with a camera that identifies and validates a person’s identity through facial recognition, with data integrated with train ticket data and passenger vaccination status. It only takes 1 second to verify the passenger’s face and all data stored in KAI’s system. You do not need to worry about data security because KAI has a good information security management system and continuously improves data security.
At stations, you can also refill your drinking water bottle. KAI provides free water stations for passengers at major stations. You can refill your bottle with cold, hot, or room-temperature mineral water, making your trip more environmentally friendly and economical.
During the train journey, for those of you who can’t wait to arrive at your destination or are curious about your train’s location, you can use the live tracking feature to check the real-time position of your train.
That’s all the new trains that once went viral and the latest KAI facilities you should try to close out this year. Let’s enjoy your year-end holiday by train! Book your tickets now on Access before they run out!