The Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta Airport Railink Shuttle Bus is a new but unannounced service linking SHIA Airport Railway Station to Terminals 2 and 3. I only knew about this service from the steward’s announcement when on board the Railink train and arriving at SHIA Airport Railway Station. Since I had time to catch my Scoot flight back to Singapore, I decided to try out this new service.
There was a Railink station staff at the Skytrain station directing passengers to use the Railink Shuttle Bus, so that was easy to find and get to.
The Railink Shuttle Bus was already waiting at the driveway of Airport Railway Station Skytrain station.
The interior of the Railink Shuttle Bus.
The interior was rather crammed as the midibus had a 2+2 configuration, and a 5-abreast row right at the rear of the bus. Not to mention the strangely-tight bulkhead for the last row of seats.
Thankfully, alternate rows of seats were removed on the bus so there was a lot of legroom.
The bus seats 15 passengers in total, which isn’t a very high capacity.
Once the Railink Shuttle Bus was filled, the bus departed from Airport Railway Station.
I had expected a short bus ride, but the bus went almost to Terminal 3 before u-turning back towards Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Not sure if the driver took a wrong turn or such is the new layout of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Finally heading to Terminal 2 after passing by the western end of Terminal 3, Terminal 1 and the Skytrain Depot.
Approaching Terminal 2 with the sight of the Terminal 2 Skytrain station.
Alighting from the Railink Shuttle Bus.
The Railink Shuttle Bus only stops at Terminal 2D. For Terminals 2E anf 2F, just walk ahead. The journey from Airport Railway Station to Terminal 2D took 7 minutes.
After the Railink Shuttle Bus drops off passengers at Terminal 2D, it continues on to Terminal 3, where it terminates.
For now, this seems to be a one way transfer only for arriving passengers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport from the inbound Railink from Manggarai, since the Railink Shuttle Bus is timed to the arrival of the Railink train. Also, this is most likely a bus charter for the new City Check-In and Baggage Handling Service at BNI City for Garuda Indonesia and Citilink domestic flights, but opened for the public since there’s a low to none take up rate for the not-very-efficient in-town check-in service, hence the bus’s routing for Terminal 2D for Citilink domestic flights and Terminal 3 for Garuda Indonesia domestic flights, skipping Terminal 1.
Walking to Terminal 2F for my international Scoot flight.
Looking back to the Skytrain tracks, I spotted the Skytrain just departing from Airport Railway Station on the way to Terminal 2. Clearly the Railink Shuttle Bus won the race hands down despite the long route taken, and less walking from the Skytrain station needed since the drop-off was directly at the departure driveway.
Overall, a crammed bus but an efficient Railink Shuttle Bus service from Airport Railway Station to Terminal 2, saving me waiting and walking time had I taken the Skytrain.