Commuter Line disruptions have become the order of the day for passengers traveling through Jakarta, with recent developments at Tanah Abang Station and service interruptions affecting thousands every morning.
The Indonesian government, through the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transportation, is currently overseeing the construction of the new Tanah Abang Station, which is set to usher significant changes for Commuter Line users. Starting this Saturday, February 22, 2025, KAI Commuter, the operator, will launch platform 1 at the new station, fundamentally altering access for commuters, especially those heading to Stasiun Angke and Kampung Bandan.
Joni Martinus, the Vice President of Corporate Secretary at KAI Commuter, explained the changes. "Perubahan ini hanya khusus untuk flow kedatangan dan keberangkatan pengguna Commuter Line tujuan Stasiun Angke/Kampung Bandan di Stasiun Tanah Abang," Martinus stated, outlining how commuters coming from Manggarai will shift to using the new platform.
During this transition, passengers who previously disembarked at platform 2 of the older station will now find themselves redirected to the newly constructed platform 1 via the pedestrian bridge connecting the two buildings. This adjusted access aims to ease congestion on the older platforms 2 and 3, especially for those waiting for trains to Sudirman, Manggarai, or Duri.
For commuters traveling from Rangkasbitung who are transiting at Tanah Abang to go to Angke or Kampung Bandan, they too will benefit from the newly constructed station layout, gaining quicker access with the assistance of new pedestrian pathways. Joni advised, “Agar tidak terjadi kepadatan di JPO stasiun dan lebih nyaman, pengguna Commuter Line Rangkasbitung yang akan turun di Stasiun Tanah Abang bisa menggunakan JPM arah Pasar Tanah Abang,” emphasizing the need for orderly transitions to avoid overcrowding.
To mitigate potential issues during this construction phase, KAI Commuter has implemented safety measures including the installation of three escalators and manual stairs, facilitating safe movement for travelers between platforms. Despite these efforts, the reality on the ground depicted scenes of chaos early on Saturday morning as disruptions rippled through the network, stirring frustrations among passengers.
On the same day the new platform is set to launch, commuters heading to Nambo and Bogor faced significant delays. Reports indicated long lines at stations due to outages caused by electrical repairs. “Terdapat perbaikan Listrik Aliran Atas (LAA) di antara Stasiun Jakarta Kota-Gambir dan saat ini dalam penanganan oleh petugas,” KAI Commuter disclosed on social media, urging patrons to prioritize their safety and follow staff directions.
Passengers at Stasiun Mangga Besar expressed their impatience as they waited for news on the resolution of the outages. Many were visibly frustrated, voicing concerns about being late for work or appointments. The issue points to how intertwined infrastructure upgrades and service reliability often are, affecting not just logistics but daily lives.
Statistics reveal the strain commuters face as Tanah Abang averages about 54,000 to 55,000 passengers daily on weekdays and around 41,000 to 43,000 on weekends. The enormity of this volume necessitates urgent attention to service enhancements, especially during the transition to the new station layout.
On busy working days, the transit volume at this very station reaches approximately 145,000 passengers, signifying its status as one of Jakarta's busiest hubs. With this level of foot traffic, the hope is the new station will not only ease congestion but also enable smoother journeys for commuters traversing the city.
Joni Martinus closed with optimistic remarks on the construction project, saying, “KAI Commuter berharap dengan pengoperasian bangunan baru Stasiun Tanah Abang ini dapat meningkatkan keselamatan, layanan, kenyamanan, serta integrasi antar moda.” The phase of expansion is expected to yield improvements, yet, these temporary disruptions serve as reminders of the complex dynamics of urban transit systems.
Commuters are encouraged to bear with the changes and remain vigilant as adjustments are made. The overall goal remains clear—enhancing safety and comfort for the thousands who rely on the Commuter Line each day.