KA Kutojaya Utara 224 Train from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi in Premium Class (K3 2018 Stainless Steel)

Kutojaya Utara 224 is an elusive long-distance train in Jakarta, which departs from Jakarta Kota Railway Station in the heart of Kota Tua, instead of the usual Gambir or Pasar Senen. While Jakarta Kota is a major terminal station in Jakarta, it only serves 1 pair of long-distance intercity trains now. As such, I woke up earlier than usual in order to make it to Jakarta Kota in time to catch this once-a-day long-distance intercity train departure from the grand old dame.

Jakarta Kota Railway Station

Long-distance intercity trains depart from a separate side entrance at Jakarta Kota Railway Station beside the new TransJakarta busway halt.

Go Show Ticket Counter

I first headed to the ticket counter to buy my Go Show ticket on the spot.

While I could buy my ticket online, it will be at a much higher price on the shortest section fare from Jakarta Kota. However, special Go Show fares for the short section from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi are available from the ticket counter 2 hours before departure.

After the staff confirmed that I did indeed want to take the Kutojaya Utara 224 from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi instead of the much cheaper Commuter Line, the ticket counter was opened specially for me.

The special Go Show fare for the once-daily Kutojaya Utara 224 train from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi costs Rp 30,000. In comparison, the normal KAI Commuter Line fare from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi costs Rp 4,000 with more than 200 possible trip combinations a day.

I was pleasantly surprised that upon presentation of my passport when my KTP was requested, the ticket counter staff conversed with me in English.

Check-in

The ticket counter staff also did not simply hand me my white dot matrix slip of paper to check-in at the check-in kiosk, but personally walked out with the white dot matrix slip and helped me check-in on the check-in kiosk.

Ticket Checking

The ticket counter staff further went on to bring my boarding pass to the ticket checking counter to scan me through, before I even touched my boarding pass for the first time.

Tip-top customer service at Jakarta Kota Railway Station.

My boarding pass for my KA Kutojaya Utara 224 train from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi in Premium Class. This special Go Show fare costs Rp 30,000, only available 2 hours before departure, subject to availability.

The waiting area for long-distance intercity trains (train?) at Jakarta Kota Railway Station. While fully sheltered and covered, it is not air-conditioned, making it feel like a glasshouse.

My Kutojaya Utara 224 was ready for boarding as I had arrived just in time for departure, so I proceeded straight to the platform. Even though the train was right in front of me, access to the platform is via the end of the waiting area, with the long glass panel blocking off the waiting area and the platform.

KA Kutojaya Utara 224

Heading out to Platform 1.

The closest boarding door was ironically the kereta makan or Restaurant Car.

The name plate of Kutojaya Utara placed on the side of selected coaches.

K3 2018 Stainless Steel Premium Class

The Kutojaya Utara rake is formed fully of K3 2018 Stainless Steel Premium Class coaches for ticketed accommodation. 8 K3 2018 Stainless Steel Premium Class are in the Kutojaya Utara rake, with a kereta makan or Restaurant Car in the middle between coaches 4 and 5.

The route map of the Kutojaya Utara train. The Kutojaya Utara 224 from Jakarta Kota will stop at Jakarta Pasar Senen, Bekasi, Pegadenbaru, Haurgeulis, Jatibarang, Cirebon Prujakan, Ciledug, Ketanggungan, Prupuk, Bumiayu, Purwokerto, Kroya, Sumpiuh, Gombong, Karanganyar, and Kebumen, before terminating at Kutoarjo.

I will just be on board for the short hop from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi.

The interior of the K3 2018 Stainless Steel Premium Class coaches. These are similar to the new Economy Class coaches, but with reclining functions. This new feature is debatable, in my opinion.

My booked seat at 14A. This unfortunately came with a pillar directly beside my seat, but I realised that this was the best row for photography and videography out of the windows since my camera gets the full window view when leaned on the pillar.

The legroom available on board Premium Class.

The seat back is not very high and I would be seeing the person’s head in front of me from the next station.

Seats can be reclined with the recline lever by the side.

An integrated side table and 2 2-pin power sockets are provided by the window at the window seat.

A squat toilet is available, designated as the men’s toilet.

A sitting toilet is also available, designated as the ladies’ toilet.

Do note that due to the random rotation of the coaches within the rake, the toilets may not always be at every vestibule, and at other parts, 2 sets of toilets can be found in 1 vestibule areas.

Kereta Makan (Restaurant Car)

A kereta makan or restaurant car is in the middle of the train in between coaches 4 and 5.

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

The Kutojaya Utara 224 was largely empty when departing from Jakarta Kota. Perhaps most passengers didn’t know that there was an option to do so, and searched for tickets directly for a departure from Jakarta Pasar Senen which would be a very normal thing to do.

My Kutojaya Utara 224 departed from Jakarta Kota on time at 8.35am.

My journey on the Kutojaya Utara 224 from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi will largely follow the old KRL Bekasi Line service from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi via Pasar Senen by taking the connection from Jakarta Kota to Kampung Bandan Low Level, continuing on the Loop Line to Pasar Senen and Jatinegara junction, and then on the Cikarang Line towards Bekasi.

Jakarta Pasar Senen Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Jakarta Pasar Senen Railway Station.

Jakarta Pasar Senen Railway Station is the main long-distance intercity train terminal in Jakarta for long-haul trains with mainly Economy Class accommodation and/or with more stops than trains from Jakarta Gambir.

A lot more passengers boarded from Jakarta Pasar Senen Railway Station.

The conductor made his rounds after departing from Jakarta Pasar Senen Railway Station.

Interestingly, he stopped to greet me by name and asked if my destination was only to Bekasi.

A quick yes to him, and he was on his merry way to bypass all other passengers, only looking at the reserved seating map on his phone.

Perhaps no one actually regularly does this trip from Jakarta Kota to Bekasi by Kutojaya Utara, which wouldn’t be surprising anyway.

Waiting for a brief moment at Pondok Jati Railway Station for the signal to enter Jatinegara junction.

Heading along the double-double track from Jatinegara to Bekasi.

Casually overtaking a Commuter Line Cikarang on the double-double track with ease, since my limited-stop Kutojaya Utara 224 train is on a new separate track from the stopping Commuter Line Cikarang train on the older track alignment.

Bekasi Railway Station

My Kutojaya Utara 224 train arrived at Bekasi on time at 9.25am, making this a journey of 50 minutes.

Finally spotting the locomotive, CC 201 92 18, which hauled me from Bandung to Jakarta Gambir. CC 201 92 18 belongs to Cipinang Locomotive Depot located after Jatinegara.

CC is the bogie arrangement of the locomotive (Co-Co), 201 or (CC 201) is the class of locomotive, 92 represents the year of manufacture (1992), and 18 represents the number in the series.

Heading up the non-working escalatorto the concourse. The escalator might have actually been working, but it was not switched on for up-riding passengers, since I was probably the only passenger to alight so early in the train journey. The down-riding escalator was in operation for passengers boarding the Kutojaya Utara 224.

The long-distance intercity train passenger area on the concourse level.

The exit gate was in the closed position, since the station was probably not expecting any passengers from the arriving Kutojaya Utara 224 train from Jakarta. Nevertheless, the gate was not locked, and I could exit by opening the gate and shutting it behind me.

The concourse of Bekasi Railway Station.

The new, modern façade of Bekasi Railway Station.

Conclusion

The Kutojaya Utara 224 offers a unique journey with a daylight passenger service departure from Jakarta Kota Railway Station. Otherwise, Jakarta Kota Railway Station mainly operates with frequent Commuter Line trains, and empty rakes for transfers to and from Jakarta Gambir or Jakarta Pasar Senen. While I would have enjoyed a much longer ride on board Kutojaya Utara 224 to Cirebon Prujakan or even Kutoarjo, my schedule for this trip didn’t allow for it. Nevertheless, my departure from Jakarta Kota Railway Station is definitely a unique experience, and Kutojaya Utara 224 offers this once-a-day opportunity.