After 3 fulfilling days of non-stop train rides, it’s time for the fun to end as quickly as it started. I decided to get the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Railink Services (ARS) from Sudirman Baru back to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (SHIA) despite the previous negative experience because, hey, it’s a train.
Sudirman station on the KRL Loop Line is located just before Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station, with the ends of the platforms almost touching each other. The walk between the two stations takes less than 5 minutes.
Once tapped out of the faregates on the Jatinegara-bound platform (inner track), keep left to access the linkway to Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station.
Keep going straight.
Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station is just up ahead.
Get up the very temporary-looking set of metal stairs to the incomplete-looking walkway.
Continue straight to the station hall.
Beware of passing trains beside you.
Once at the end of the walkway, take the elevator up to the main ticketing hall.
The ticketing level on first look, with nothing opened yet.
Head on straight to buy tickets from the ticketing kiosks.
Touch “Regular Ticket” to start the ticket purchase process.
With the previous hard lesson learnt for purchasing tickets with a foreign credit and debit card, we went straight to purchasing the ticket with a prepaid card.
SHIA Railink ticket sales close 10 minutes before departure. Ensure that you complete your purchase 10 minutes before departure or you will not be able to get on the train.
Tap and hold the prepaid card on the reader for a couple of seconds until the payment has been accepted.
Once done, if you are flying with Garuda Indonesia or Citilink, you can check-in for your flight at the blue check-in kiosks on the left. Other airlines will progressively be able to use the check-in kiosks as evident by the number of black-and-white airline logos which can’t be touched on the screen.
Once done, head one level down to the boarding area.
The platform will only open 10 minutes before departure. Once ready, announcements will be made around the station and staff will be on hand to show you the way.
Scan the ticket code on the reader to access the platform.
Head one level down to the platform.
My SHIA Railink ticket for the journey from Sudirman Baru (BNI City) to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
As Sudirman Baru (BNI City) is just a passing-through station for the SHIA Railink, the train will not be ready at the platform yet, but only about 5 minutes before the departure time as stated on the ticket.
This is due to frequent commuter trains passing through the station. As there are no additional tracks built for Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station, there are no overtaking opportunities for KRL trains to bypass the waiting SHIA Railink train. Furthermore, this is a busy stretch with 3 back-to-back stations of Sudirman, Sudirman Baru and Karet, almost forming one very long stretch of platform.
The incoming SHIA Railink train from Manggarai, bound for Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The interior of the SHIA Railink.
Departing Sudirman Baru (BNI City).
Passing by local houses on the way to Duri.
Approaching Duri.
Looking back at the Tangerang Line which the SHIA Railink will take to Batu Ceper.
The train stops at Duri for about 5 minutes for the driver to walk to the front end of the train to take it onwards to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. No boarding or alighting is possible yet as the new separate platforms for the SHIA Railink are not ready yet.
Splitting off from the main Loop Line to the Tangerang Line.
The scenery on the way to Batu Ceper.
Splitting off the main Tangerang Line to the dedicated SHIA Railink Batu Ceper platforms.
Arriving at Batu Ceper (Railink).
The train arrived at Batu Ceper about 5 minutes before schedule, so there was a bit of waiting before the correct departure time.
The SHIA Railink train waiting at Batu Ceper.
Departing Batu Ceper, parallel to the main Tangerang Line.
Splitting off from the main Tangerang Line onto the new 12km branch line to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The scenery along the way to the airport.
Looping around the airport perimeter.
Approaching Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The view of Platform 2. Looks complete, wonder why it’s never used.
Ah, so this is the reason why Platform 2 can’t be used yet.
Arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Bye SHIA Railink, you weren’t that much of an express ride from the city but I guess the journey is slightly more bearable because you’re a train.
My verdict on this journey? Pretty much the same as the previous onward journey – meh.
Scan the ticket again at the faregates to exit the platform.
Head straight on to exit the station.
Follow the signs to get onto the Skytrain to access the terminal buildings. In my case, I’ll be heading to Terminal 2 for my Singapore Airlines flight back to Singapore.
Head upstairs to the Skytrain platform.
The Skytrain ride from Airport Railway Station to Terminal 2 takes just 2 minutes, however the waiting time was 6.5 minutes because I’d just missed one train. So including the walking time from the SHIA Railink train to the Airport Railway Station Skytrain station, and from Terminal 2 Skytrain station to the Terminal 2 building itself, I’d say factor in 15 minutes in total.
As the direct exit to the Terminal 2 building proper isn’t ready yet, you have to make a loop around the station via the car park.
Follow the temporary-looking shelter to the terminal building.
Once across to the terminal building, get the lifts up to the Departure level.
And as with most, if not all Indonesian airports, there is a security check before entering the check-in area and thereafter immigration. So I headed straight in first to check-in for my Singapore Airlines flight back to Singapore, just in case there was going to be a queue for immigration.