W Sumatra is Setting Up Three Airport Railbus Names

Padang, (Antaranews Sumbar) - West Sumatera Provincial Government has set up three names for railbus serving Minangkabau International Airport (BIM)-Station of Simpang Haru Padang to be determined by the local governor.

"The three names are Pedati Express, Ranah Minang Express, and Minangkabau Express," West Sumatra Transportation Agency chief Amran said in Padang on Monday.

He said it was related to BIM's railbus operational plan in April or May 2018.

According to him, the name was conical from 12 names previously proposed in meetings with related parties. The three names are considered suitable for railbus which will be an alternative means of transport for West Sumatra people.

Determination of the name by governor, according to him will be done when the series of railbus reached in West Sumatra in the third week of February 2018.

Related to the operational preparation of railbus, he said it will experience a live rail test after the railbus unit came. The rails test can take up to 20 or even 30 days to ensure safety as it passes.

Ideally, the test should be done hundreds of times until the operator believes the 23 kilometer long path is safe to pass.

"For the infrastructure has been ready in the form of skybrige to the passenger terminal at BIM, the elevator and escalator have also been there, the rail has been completed, later when the train passes the passengers can directly reach the airport," he explained.

It is estimated that the project will be inaugurated in April or early May. But it does not confirmed yet related to the person who will formalize it.

The wish to be inaugurated by the President on February 9 at the same time of National Press Day (HPN) peak is believed to be unworkable because to take the railbus from Madiun takes about three weeks on board.

He added, the new tariff will be set after all the testing process is completed or before the airport railbus operates.

Railbus airport aims to integrate air transportation services with railbus mode until people get ease in traveling out of the region. (cha)

Translator: Vicha Faradika