Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit

Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit
source
Name	Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit
Locale	Jakarta, Indonesia
Transit type	Rapid transit
Began operation	24 March 2019
Lines	2 (operational)
Stations	13 (operational)
Operator	PT MRT Jakarta
System length	15.7 km (9.8 mi)

Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit. It is a rapid transit system serving the capital city of Indonesia, designed to alleviate severe traffic congestion and modernize the city's public transportation network. Operated by the state-owned company PT MRT Jakarta, the system represents a major infrastructure milestone for the Greater Jakarta area. Its development involved significant international collaboration and funding, marking a new era of urban mobility in Southeast Asia.

History

The concept for a modern metro in Jakarta was studied for decades, with serious planning gaining momentum in the 2000s under the governorship of Fauzi Bowo. The project was officially launched with a groundbreaking ceremony in 2013 by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Construction was primarily handled by a consortium involving Japanese firms like Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency through a soft loan agreement. The first phase, known as the North-South Line, commenced commercial operations on 24 March 2019, inaugurated by President Joko Widodo. This launch followed extensive test runs and public trials overseen by the Ministry of Transportation (Indonesia).

Network

The operational network consists of a single line, the North-South Line, running from Bundaran HI station in the central business district to Lebak Bulus station in South Jakarta. This line includes 13 underground and elevated stations, connecting key areas such as Senayan, ASEAN, and Blok M. It integrates with other major transit systems, featuring direct interchanges with the Jakarta LRT at ASEAN MRT Station and the TransJakarta bus rapid transit at several stations like Bendungan Hilir MRT Station. The alignment passes through major corridors like Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan M.H. Thamrin.

Operations

Daily service is managed by PT MRT Jakarta, with trains operating from 5:00 AM to midnight. The system uses a fleet of six-car electric multiple unit trainsets manufactured by a consortium of Nippon Sharyo and Sumitomo Corporation. Fares are integrated using the electronic Jak Lingko card, which is also valid on TransJakarta and the Jakarta LRT. Safety and security operations involve coordination with the Jakarta Police and utilize extensive closed-circuit television monitoring. Train control and signaling are provided by Siemens Mobility using communications-based train control technology.

Infrastructure

The system features a combination of deep-level underground tunnels, constructed using tunnel boring machines, and elevated guideways. Key underground stations, like Bundaran HI MRT Station, are among the deepest in the region. The Depot and main operational control center are located at Lebak Bulus. Power is supplied via a 1,500-volt direct current overhead line system. Stations are equipped with platform screen doors, elevators, and escalators to ensure accessibility. The Lebak Bulus Depot houses maintenance facilities and stabling yards for the train fleet.

Future expansion

The second phase, extending the North-South Line northward from Bundaran HI to Kota in West Jakarta, is under construction with targeted completion by 2028. This extension will add seven stations, connecting to the historic Kota Tua Jakarta area. A fully separate East-West Line is in advanced planning stages, intended to run from Ujung Menteng to Kali Deres, intersecting with the North-South Line at Sawah Besar MRT Station. Long-term metropolitan plans also consider potential integration with the proposed Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail and further extensions into satellite cities like Bogor and Depok.

Impact

The system has significantly reduced travel times along its corridor, with a full end-to-end journey taking approximately 30 minutes, compared to over two hours by car during peak congestion. It has spurred transit-oriented development around stations, with major projects by developers like Sinar Mas Land and Agung Podomoro Land. The project has set new standards for public transportation in Indonesia, influencing the development of the Semarang Light Rail Transit and Surabaya Mass Rapid Transit. It has also contributed to a modal shift, reducing the number of private vehicles on major arteries like Jalan M.H. Thamrin and supporting Jakarta's air quality improvement goals.

Category:Rapid transit in Indonesia Category:Transport in Jakarta Category:Railway lines opened in 2019