KA Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F from Jakarta Gambir to Bandung by Train in Executive Class (K1 2018 Stainless Steel)

Argo Parahyangan is a series of trains operating between Jakarta Gambir and Bandung, with some trains serving onwards to Kiaracondong. While planning a trip to Bandung, most trains were already sold out on the date of my intended travel. However, the Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F extra train still had seats available, most probably with extra tickets opened for sale later. As such, I booked Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F to proceed with my trip.

Jakarta Gambir Railway Station

Heading into Jakarta Gambir Railway Station.

It was a crowded morning at Jakarta Gambir Railway Station.

Check-in

Heading to the check-in kiosks to get my boarding pass for my Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F train.

Check-in is simple with just keying in my PNR and ticking my name.

My boarding pass for my Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F train from Jakarta Gambir to Bandung. Despite having registered my vaccination information on PeduliLindungi already, my vaccination status still remains as unvaccinated. I’m not sure if this problem is for all foreigners.

Ticket Checking

Not many people were in the queue for ticket checking, which was great.

My vaccination problem was easily solved by showing my vaccination certificate at ticket checking as my boarding pass was scanned by the staff. This took some additional seconds.

Vaccination is no longer required to travel on KAI trains.

As I was still early for my Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F train, I did not go up to the platform yet.

Unknown to many, there is an air-conditioned seating area and indoor garden in the middle of Jakarta Gambir Railway Station on the ground floor with padded benches and power sockets.

There is also a koi pond in the middle, surrounding the benches, which reminded a bit of the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 2.

About half an hour before departure, I headed up to the platform.

Heading up to Platform 1 with the escalator.

Reska staff were already at the platform to welcome passengers on board the Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F on Platform 1.

Boarding my booked coach at Eksekutif 1.

K1 2018 Stainless Steel Executive Class

The interior of my K1 2018 Stainless Steel Executive Class coach.

My booked seat at 7A. No worries about getting a full window or facing forward as each row comes with 1 window on board Executive Class and all seats can rotate to face the direction of travel. However, the side of the coach may flip over randomly and row numbers may not be in the same sequence as neighbouring coaches, and the A and D sides may not guarantee being on the left or right of the train.

The legroom available on board Executive Class.

A retractable footrest is also provided. Pull down the footrest to lower it, and step on the side lever to retract.

A 3.5mm headphone jack is provided at the side of the seat. Passengers now have the option to listen to the videos playing individually using individual headsets for a better sound experience.

A flip-out table is located in the outer armrests.

A side table and 2 2-pin power sockets are available by the window seat.

The number plate of my K1 0 18 156. K1 stands for Executive Class, 0 stands for non-motorised, 18 represents the year of manufacture (2018) and 156 is the number in the series of coaches.

Sitting toilets are provided on the new Stainless Steel coaches.

CC206 15 06 leads my Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F train from Cirebon to Jakarta Gambir.

CC is the bogie arrangement of the locomotive (Co-Co), 206 or (CC206) is the class of locomotive, 15 represents the year of manufacture (2015), and 06 represents the number in the series (which is 106). An addition of 100 is added to the number of the locomotive for the 2015 and 2016 batches of CC206 locomotives, so 06 means it’s the 106th CC206 locomotive in the fleet.

PT KAI bought 150 of these locomotives, making trainspotting a bit boring nowadays.

Delivery stickers still remain pasted on CC206 15 06.

Kereta Makan (Restaurant Car)

A restaurant car or kereta makan is attached on the Argo Parahyangan Tambahan.

Ample legroom is provided at the dining tables for easy access. Power sockets are also located under the dining table.

There is also a new addition of a counter table with a view facing a dedicated window by the ordering counter.

A mushola is also available on board the kereta makan for Muslim prayers.

Slippers are also provided for ablution.

K3 2018 Stainless Steel Economy Class

The other half of the train is made up of K3 2018 Stainless Steel Economy Class coaches with the Premium branding, which were fully seated too.

The K3 2018 Stainless Steel Economy Class seats are identical to the K3 2017 Premium coaches with seats that are similar to the K3 2016 New Image but additionally recline.

Personally, I find that this upgrade is a disaster, that the thin seats with less-than-ideal legroom can now be reclined, which means the person in front of me can recline into my legroom. However, this recline option seems to be popular among most travellers, with a perception that the gap between Ekonomi and Eksekutif is getting closer.

In addition to the recline option, non-subsidised Economy Class fares have also noticeably increased along with the generation of Economy Class coach provided on the respective trains.

The route map of Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 43A and 48F. A limited stop service.

The name plate of the KA Argo Parahyangan on the side of selected coaches.

My Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F departed from Jakarta Gambir Railway Station on time at 10.10am.

Porters line up along the platform to thank passengers for using KAI upon departure.

Ticket Checking

The conductor started his ticket checks on his phone. There is no need to produce tickets for ticket checking as reserved seats and passenger details are all displayed on the conductor’s phone.

Heading on the line down to ground level, while the new elevated line splits off.

Merging with the Cikarang Line racket at Manggarai (ground level).

Crossing the Ciliwung River.

Passing by the construction of Manggarai Sentral Railway Station while passing through the old Manggarai Railway Station on ground level.

The walkway connecting the old Manggarai Railway Station with the new Manggarai Railway Station.

Splitting off from the Bogor line.

Passing through Jatinegara Railway Station.

Bekasi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bekasi Railway Station.

KAI Hygiene Kit

After tickets have been checked, a Reska staff came round to distribute hygiene kits to all passengers.

The KAI hygiene kit consisted of a resealable pouch with a KAI-branded N95/FFP2 mask and a packet of wet tissue.

I headed over to the kereta makan to get lunch shortly after passing through Cikarang Railway Station.

Big seats and tables are provided in the kereta makan, along with power sockets mounted on the wall below the dining tables. A table service is offered on board the kereta makan.

The menu on board the kereta makan.

I ordered a Kopi Susu to wake myself up for the train journey and day out in Bandung.

For lunch, I ordered a Nasi Goreng Bakso.

This Nasi Goreng Bakso was wrapped in a bigger elongated portion than my previous Nasi Goreng Kereta ordered on board the Argo Cheribon 18A, with the box fittings changed too.

It was indeed a bigger portion with more ingredients inside the fried rice too, along with diced Bakso.

Meals are very standardised by Reska now across the train types, with reheating by microwaves done on board. This results in a consistent product, but not necessarily good. However, in this case, the Nasi Goreng Bakso had more variety of taste than my previous Nasi Goreng Kereta.

At this time, the trolley was also prepared for at-seat sales along the train.

Passing through Cikampek Railway Station, the junction station of the northern and western railway lines of Java.

Taking the western line towards Bandung after Cikampek Railway Station.

Heading along the hilly lines.

Passing by rice fields along the way.

Passing under the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail viaducts.

Passing by more plantations.

Crossing over the Cisomang Bridge.

More hilly scenery.

Passing through Maswati Railway Station.

Approaching the Sasaksaat Tunnel.

Entering the Sasaksaat Tunnel.

The Sasaksaat Tunnel has an LED strip running alongside the train on the tunnel walls.

Making a brief stop at Sasaksaat Railway Station for crossing with an opposing Argo Parahyangan train.

Crossing with the opposing Argo Parahyangan train.

This Argo Parahyangan train has an Luxury coach attached at the rear.

Passing by another Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail viaduct in between 2 tunnels.

Heading around and under the Purbaleunyi Toll Road.

Great view of plantations from above.

Cimahi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Cimahi Railway Station.

Passing by Ciroyom Railway Station on approach to Bandung Railway Station.

Entering Bandung Railway Station.

Bandung Railway Station

My Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F arrived at Bandung Railway Station at 1.25pm – 2 minutes early.

The at-grade linkway from the platforms to the north station building is now closed.

All passengers now use the new Skybridge to cross the tracks, which I find a hassle as compared to simply crossing the tracks like before. The crowd along the platform was also slow-moving to access the travellator.

The new Skybridge across the tracks at Bandung Railway Station.

No opportunities for photos of the front of the train now, with the locomotive and kereta pembangkit (power car) now stopped past the access to the Skybridge.

Heading onto the travellator in the Skybridge.

Both travellators were set to up-moving for this train arrival. However, the speed was slow.

Passing beside the kereta pembangkit of my Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F.

Approaching the end of the travellator.

Crossing the new Skybridge to the north station building.

Looking back down to the tracks.

Platforms are labelled on the Skybridge.

Heading down on the other end of the Skybridge on the slow-moving travellator.

Approaching the end of the travellator.

This is fun to ride on if you’re experiencing it for the first time, but it’s not as convenient as crossing the tracks like before in a few seconds.

Heading out of the Skybridge.

There was a Grab KAI promotion offering up to 90% discount when ordered to or from Bandung Railway Station.

Heading along the original waiting area to the exit.

My CC206 15 06 returning to the depot.

Heading out of the ticketed area to the public area.

Heading out of Bandung Railway Station.

The façade of Bandung Railway Station north station building.

The Grab didn’t seem to want to enter Bandung Railway Station, and I was asked to walk a few meters away from the entrance onto the main road for pick-up. Nevertheless, the Grab KAI 90% discount (up to Rp.14.000) still could be used.

Conclusion

It was a comfortable, convenient, and scenic trip on board Argo Parahyangan Tambahan 48F. While serving limited stops, the crossing at Sasaksaat was a pleasant surprise for me to spot the crossing and to stretch my legs as I headed to the train door. The journey time was also sufficient for me to enjoy lunch (although microwaved) and to enjoy the scenery of the hilly lines towards Bandung, before arriving in Bandung early.