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A prospective passenger's sample is taken for a rapid antigen test at Gambir Station, Jakarta. (ANTARA/HO-PT Kereta Api Indonesia/uyu) - 

State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) has announced that it will reduce the price of COVID-19 rapid antigen test services at 83 railway stations from Rp45 thousand to Rp35 thousand from January 1, 2022.

"The adjustment of the rate aims to improve our services amid the 2022 New Year holiday," a spokesman of the company Joni Martinus informed in a statement issued here on Thursday.

He expected the more affordable price to help prospective passengers complete the requirements for boarding trains, which include bringing vaccination certificates and COVID-19 test results.

From December 17–29, 2021, KAI rejected 22,576 customers as they had not completed the health requirements and not passed the health screening, he informed.

Furthermore, the rapid antigen test service is a collaboration between several state-owned enterprises, including KAI, Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia, and Indofarma, he added.

The 83 stations that will cut the prices of tests include Pasar Senen (Jakarta), Gambir (Jakarta), Bekasi, Cikampek (Karawang district), Karawang, Bandung, Kiaracondong (Bandung city), Tasikmalaya, Banjar, Purwakarta, Cimahi, Cipendeuy (Garut district), Ciamis, Cirebon, and Cirebon Prujakan.

Jatibarang (Indramayu district), Haurgeulis (Indramayu district), Babakan (Cirebon district), Brebes, Pegadenbaru (Subang district), Semarang Tawang, Semarang Poncol, Tegal, Cepu (Blora district), Ngrombo (Grobogan district), Pemalang, Pekalongan, Weleri (Kendal district), and Purwokerto stations will also implement the price cut.

Additionally, Kroya (Cilacap district), Kutoarjo (Purworejo district), Sidareja (Cilacap district), Kebumen, Gombong (Kebumen district), Cilacap, Yogyakarta, Solo Balapan, Lempuyangan (Yogyakarta city), Klaten, Purwosari (Solo city), Sragen, Wates (Kulon Progo district), Solo Jebres, Madiun, Jombang, and Blitar stations will also slash prices of the tests.

Kediri, Tulungagung, Nganjuk, Kertosono (Nganjuk district), Surabaya Pasar Turi, Surabaya Gubeng, Malang, Wlingi (Blitar district), Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, Bojonegoro, Babat (Lamongan district), Lamongan, Kepanjen (Malang District), Wonokromo (Surabaya city), Jember, Ketapang (Banyuwangi district), Banyuwangi Kota, Rogojampi (Banyuwangi district), and Kalisetail (Banyuwangi district) stations will follow suit.

Some more stations that will roll out the price cuts are Probolinggo, Medan, Kisaran (Asahan district), Tanjung Balai, Rantauprapat (Labuhanbatu district), Mambangmuda (North Labuhanbatu district), Tebing Tinggi, Kertapati (Palembang city), Prabumulih, Muaraenim, Lahat, Tebingtinggi (Empat Lawang district), Lubuk Linggau, Tanjungkarang (Bandar Lampung city), Kotabumi (North Lampung district), Baturaja (Ogan Komering Ulu district), and Martapura (East Ogan Komering Ulu district).

Ahead of the New Year holiday, the corporation has sold 126,709 long-distance train tickets, equivalent to 41 percent of the total passenger capacity, Martinus said. However, the number may increase since ticket sales are still open, he added//ANT