The plan to create a railway line between Bali airport and the island’s leading tourism resorts has been on the cards for years.
Bali’s Governor, Wayan Koster, has confirmed that plans are still full steam ahead for the new transpiration facilities that will massively change the tourism experience of the island.
Speaking to the media during a press conference with the British ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Governor Koster confirmed that plans are still in progress to create an electric train service from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to the resort areas of southern Badung.
Governor Koster said, “We are indeed heading in that direction” Nothing discussions with the British ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Owen Jenkins, have touched on Bali’s transition to renewable energy use, especially in the transportation sector.
Statements made last year suggest that the light rail transit (LRT) line would run through to Seminyak.
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Jenkins confirmed that the UK is ready to support Indonesia and Bali specifically with the sustainable transport plan.
He explained, “The UK also wants to offer the expertise that can be offered in the clean energy sector as well as our newest energy. A plan like this is very suitable for the Provincial Government of Bali, and we hope it can be followed up.”
A railway line between Bali Airport and the major tourist resorts of the south would be huge news for tourists and local people.
The huge investment in infrastructure would result in big changes in the way areas like Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, and Benoa operate.
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It would help bring more tourists into these areas, even with the proposed tourism quotas, and no doubt result in investment in even more facilities and resources for tourists, from hotels to restaurants, attractions, and event spaces.
So what does the sustainable transportation plan mean for tourists heading to Bali in the near future?
In the long run, these transitions to green transportation will help reduce travel time from tourism destination to tourism destination. Giving travelers an easier and more enjoyable travel experience within Bali.
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There is very little public transportation infrastructure in Bali, resulting in most tourists hiring a private driver or taxi. In the short term, very little will change.
Construction has not yet started, so tourists do not need to worry about the sound of a building site disturbing their vacation!
The proposed LRT, for example, will provide quick and efficient train service from Bali Airport to key vacation destinations like Sanur, Benoa, and Seminyak, with stops in Renon and Denpasar that would provide a connection point to more northerly parts of the island like Ubud.
The train line would help reduce traffic on Bali’s roads, reducing pollution and travel time for those who do need to use a car.
Governor Koster has also committed to having 140,000 electric motorcycles on the street by 2026, in addition to over 5,700 electric cars and a fleet of fifty electric buses for public transportation.
The LTR is all part of a bigger plan to ensure sustainable development in Bali.
While it may be some time before the first tracks are laid for the airport railway line in Bali, there are already local businesses taking matters into their own hands to help reduce traffic on the roads and improve tourists’ experience of the island.
GoBoat is a new service that provides a fast boat shuttle between two of Bali’s most popular beach resorts. The fast boat shuttle transports small groups of tourists to and from Padang Padang Beach in Uluwatu to Nelayan Beach in Canggu.
The new transportation operation has only been open for a few weeks and is already proving popular with tourists who want a novel and efficient way to nip between Bali’s two leading surf and party destinations.
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Yuoku
Friday 19th of May 2023
Ok, you take the tram or whatever from the airport, to Kuta or Seminyak.. and then what? Rent a car from the station to your accommodation 300m away? Try to walk on non-existent sidewalks and fall into a hole or get run over by a local teenager on a loud bike? Get hassled every 10 meters by sellers, maybe bag or something stolen also.
Exp
Thursday 18th of May 2023
A 43km long LRT line is under planning in Jakarta with budget IDR32.5 trillion (US$2.18 billion), or US$51m per km line.
Now this 9.5km long Kuta LRT project has a budget of IDR10 trillion (US$671 million), or 70m US$ per km line, or almost 40% more expensive than the planned line in Jakarta.
A big project is important as next year is presidential election with expensive campaigns.
In Jakarta a minister was arrested yesterday apparently corrupted away >US$500 million from a project to benefit remote and poor areas of Indonesia. This is the harsh reality here.
Exp
Friday 19th of May 2023
The minster arrested yesterday (Mr. Plate) had a habit of arriving to "work" in a new Mercedes Mayback with price tag IDR 7 Milyar (US$450,000), well above the standard even for the president car.
This enourmous corruption case suggest that 83% of the funds allocated for new telecom towers in remote area are no longer accounted for and around 1000 towers installed do not work. This corruption case involves people working for Huawei Indonesia already arrested.
That this minster is the secretary for the party with main challenger for the ruling PDPI party could just be a coincidence.
No wonder western companies with their due diligence and Know Your Customer approach are no longer welcome in infrastructure and energy sector.
This is why I'm a bit skeptical that a LRT will be built and operated to the required standard. Just look at the airports built all over Indonesia the last 10 years. All planned with big budgets and built with low quality materials and work. Like many Bali villas...
Firechef
Friday 19th of May 2023
@Exp, What do you expect? Sukarno times are still there, only different name. Corruption is rampant amongst politicians in every country on earth, but more so in 3rd. World countries, that's why they are 3rd world countries.
Shorty
Wednesday 17th of May 2023
Another Koster brain fart. A train line won't bring anymore tourist. Besides doesn't he advocate reductions/quotas on tourist numbers and get high quality tourists? Very few if any will catch a train from the airport to the hotel. Most have flown a long way, many flights arrive and leave at night. How many will want to go to the airpot station with all their luggage and maybe kids, catch the train, get off at the closest station to their hotel. Then have to find more transport. Bugger all. For this and day tours they'll catch cabs, hire cars or organised tours. Locals? I think it will be like the disastrous Sarbagita bus service. Scooters are cheaper, faster and more convenient. And the bull in the china shop. Rail would need a corridor of land, tunnels and elevated tracks. It would have the problems caused by intersection with the existing road structure. Having built it you then have to add the cost of rails, platforms, signalling, electrification, rolling stock.... In the meantime the road infrastructure is woeful and will get worse even if rail is built. The planning and finance should be used to develop an integrated well thought out road system. I'd suggest corridor/development costs would be comparable. You'd also have the savings from not needing the add ons to assist in future extension.
Shorty
Saturday 20th of May 2023
@Exp, If the success is predicated on your first point it's doomed. Most workers live outside the planned routes. Your second point. Seminyak to Tuban has the highest number of people working in businesses associated with the tourist industry. Where do you find the land for a park and shuttle, and can you imagine the numbers of shuttle buses needed?
Firechef
Friday 19th of May 2023
@Exp, Exactly!
Exp
Wednesday 17th of May 2023
@Shorty, Quote "How many will want to go to the airpot station with all their luggage and maybe kids, catch the train, get off at the closest station to their hotel."
Astute observation: 1. This type of transport is for those on a regular routine with no luggage (like workers). 2. Better to ban workers from driving into tourist zones. Park outside and use shuttle in/out. That will take care of most of the traffic jams and hellish noise and pollution from many of the motorbikes.
Wayan Bo
Wednesday 17th of May 2023
🚂Orient Express di Bali
Ketut
Wednesday 17th of May 2023
That would be good if they have tram or train less motorbike