Bisnis.com, JAKARTA -PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has just launched the latest breakthrough by introducing two units of train wagons with a special concept, namely panoramic or panoramic, which is named KA Panoramic.

This luxury train works in conjunction with Balai Yasa KAI Surabaya Gubeng, a train repair shop that has been operating since 1913.

The base is an executive train car and has been in the works since early 2022 modeling a similar product from Swiss train operator Glacier Express.

Indonesia is the first user of scenic trains for the Southeast Asia region and has the opportunity to be exported to foreign countries.

Here are unique facts from the scenic train quoted on Indonesia.go.id

1. Luxurious look

As quoted from Balai Yasa Surabaya Gubeng’s social media account on Youtube channel, it is explained that the exterior or exterior of the train is covered in a shiny royal green color with gold livery lines, giving it a sense of luxury. The appearance of the interior space or interior is in the form of a carriage with very large windows on both sides with beige wooden panel pattern walls.

2. Transparent roof

On the roof, it is glazed to form a square pattern (emerald panoramic roof) extending seamlessly from front to back. At first glance, it looks like the concept of a panoramic roof on a car roof. The glass is of a special type because in addition to not being easily shattered by hard objects hitting it from outside the train, it is also able to absorb heat from the sun so that the cabin of the carriages does not be not hot. No need to worry about being dazzled by the sunlight even if the car is cool, because there are sophisticated blinds that will automatically close (automatic roller shutters) if we press a button on one side of the passenger seat .

3. The seat can be rotated

Even if you want to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery outside the train, you don’t need to turn your head. Because the 46 loveseat units can be rotated to face the large window. There is a power outlet provided in one corner of the chair to power up the laptop or charge the device. Right at the end of the carriage there is a special luggage rack to place suitcases or bicycles and in one corner a wheelchair is provided if needed.

4. State-of-the-art toilets

In addition to being spacious and fragrant, the restaurant is also equipped with a state-of-the-art toilet seat and touchless water tap and clothes dryer. With a touch of advanced technology, the water will stop flowing in seconds to save use.

5. Security Features

Panoramic train safety features include lightweight fire extinguisher (APAR), glass breaker and emergency brake.

With all these benefits, our desire to satisfy ourselves by seeing the green scenery of nature during the trip will be fully paid off. Plus, you can see the shimmering beauty of billions of stars in the sky through the emerald panoramic roof when traveling at night. An automatic light sensor system is installed in the train. This is useful when entering the tunnel, then the wagon lights will turn on automatically.

The scenic train has passed a series of tests and obtained the certification of train structure strength, static test and dynamic test by the railway facilities test team, the railway test center of the Ministry of Transport. On the Railroad Testing Center Instagram account, they said the series of tests included dimensional tests, design tests, leakage tests, light intensity tests, airflow tests, bearing temperature and noise tests.

According to KAI Vice President of Public Relations, Joni Martinus, as reported by Antara, the train which officially left Balai Yasa Surabaya Gubeng on August 11, 2022 was presented to the public on December 24, 2022. The scenic train is coupled with the additional Taksaka train to serve the Gambir-Yogyakarta station line.

6. Targeted by tourists

The scenic train concept is used to attract tourists to a number of countries. Even rail operators in the United States have been pioneers since 1945 to serve routes to the northern region. They call it a Vistadome and it’s made specifically as a luxury train whose roof is made of a glass dome so you can see the wide sky.

7. Train speed

The speed of the train is limited to a maximum of 40 km/h because on the Kalka-Shimla road there are 912 dangerous bends, 969 bridges and 103 tunnels. Including the 1,143 meter long Barog Tunnel and the longest in India. The landscape of this route is extraordinarily beautiful as it crosses snow-capped mountains, pine forests and deep valleys. This Vistadome in India is in high demand by domestic and foreign tourists and according to Indian Railways it carries an average of one million passengers per year.

8. Catering Lounge

At the very back of the car is a sort of lounge with a restaurant-style seating arrangement. So that the passengers do not get bored, the train crew prepares various activities such as live music performances, the dance of the Saqras masks of the Paucartambo tribe with brightly colored costumes like a rainbow. After that, passengers were treated to a fashion show attraction featuring models of the train’s crew.

Of course, various heavy meals and snacks are also served by the crew to passengers during the trip. Uniquely, in the inflated wagon, there is a kind of hall with seats in the form of elongated sofas. At the far end was a large door leading to an open balcony with an iron railing. This balcony can be used by passengers to take fun photos with the backdrop of the Andes snow or just stand still and watch the beauty of nature.

9. Countries that have scenic trains

Switzerland has also succeeded in developing scenic rail tourism in the European region. As reported by Swiss Activities, five train operators operate it. Including crossings across the country, as did the Bernina Express, which opened a route from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano, a small town in Lombardy, Italy. The Glacier Express itself has a special route through the sea of ​​snow from St Moritz to Zermatt up to 291 km and it takes eight hours at a maximum speed of 35 km per hour.

The vistadome concept has also been embraced by India, which started building it in 2015 and was launched in December 2016 to service tourist routes along the valleys and mountains of Kashmir. Additionally, in March 2018, he launched the Jan Shatabdi Express from Mumbai to Madgaon, crossing the Kashmir Valley again. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to praise the Vistadome when he tested it in January 2021.

As announced by Conde Nast Traveler, Indian Railways as of August 3, 2022 operated 33 Vistadome railcars which are arranged on 23 train routes. These scenic trains follow verdant scenic routes, winding through national park forests, skirting waterfalls and crossing wide rivers.

India Railways also operates the Him Darshan Express vistadome on the historic Kalka-Shimla route which is 96 km long and sits at the foothills of the Himalayas. This is a rail route that has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it has existed since 1855. The rail line reaches the area at an altitude of between 2,200 meters and 2,300 meters above sea level. of the sea (masl). In winter, the slopes will be covered with snow.

Peru Rail also operates a Vistadome on routes to the famous tourist attraction and part of the UNESCO Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. The Vistadome train travels the route from Cusco at 3,486 m above sea level, descending the Andes to Machu Picchu in the Urubamba Valley (2,438 m above sea level). During the journey of 111 km or almost four hours, we are not only entitled to beautiful views of the mountains.

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