Nissa Nurmauluddiana

23 year old, Post Graduated Student

Writer and Photographer: Iqbal Kusumadirezza

My name is Nisa Nurmauliddiana, I am a third semester postgraduate student at Communication Faculty, Padjadjaran University, Jatinangor, Sumedang, but I live in Bandung. West Java Province. Two years ago, I started using the Bandung-Jakarta train. every month, usually once a month. But when I have many activities, it can be two to three times a month.

From several modes of transportation, I choose the train to avoid traffic jams. Secondly, the train schedule is appropriate and on time. When I have to meet people and friends in Jakarta around 10:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time), I just choose the train that departs at dawn, and at 08.00 WIB, I arrived in Jakarta, without having to be interrupted by traffic and others.

The train is also one of the more convenient forms of transportation. I’m not complicated, and I don’t have to transit anywhere. Compared to others, I clearly prefer trains because, in terms of safety, it is also better than a bus.

I knew there would be a fastest train later. The trip from Bandung to Jakarta and the High-Speed Train only takes about 45 minutes to an hour. I only know, the ticket price is more expensive than a regular train. Even so, I can’t be sure whether I will immediately switch to using the high-speed train or not. Most importantly, I will look at budget conditions. If I were rushed and chasing time, maybe I would use a high-speed train. But if you are relaxed, and the budget is indeed not there, you will definitely use a regular train.

Honestly, I’m interested in trying to use a high-speed train. For examples when I have to find time to commute to Bandung-Jakarta. So that I will not arrive in Bandung too late, this transportation can be used. When I need to go to Jakarta in the morning, I also don’t need to come too early to the main station.

I see this high-speed train is quite helpful. Especially for those who work in Jakarta but live outside Jakarta such as Bandung. But for students, it seems less needed. Moreover, students are always looking for cheap budget transportation. For travel time, as long as it is faster than regular and comfortable trains, maybe workers in Jakarta who live in Bandung will use it. And when there is something important, it’s likely that residents of Bandung or Jakarta will choose to use the fast train. This could be an alternative to having to spend three hours on the road by a regular train.

I think this is positive because there will be many transportation options to Jakarta, especially now, Bandung people who work in Jakarta or Jakarta people who are on business to Bandung always run out of train tickets. Now, people have started to quit travel because of the unpredictable travel time and traffic jams on the highway toll road.