Gambir railway station

Gambir Station Stasiun Gambir
Inter-city rail station
Panoramic view of Gambir railway station's entrance.
General information
Location	Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No. 1, Gambir, Gambir, Central Jakarta Jakarta Indonesia
Coordinates	6°10′36″S106°49′50″E / 6.176716°S 106.830508°E / -6.176716; 106.830508
Elevation	+16 m (52 ft)
Owned by	Kereta Api Indonesia
Operated by	Kereta Api Indonesia
Platforms	Double island platforms
Tracks	4
Connections	Gambir Gambir 2
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Parking	Available
Accessible	Available
Other information
Station code	GMR • 0430 [1]
Classification	Large type A [1]
History
Opened	15 September 1871;152 years ago (1871-09-15)
Rebuilt	1992
Previous names	Koningsplein Halt Weltevreden Station
Original company	Dutch East Indies Railway Company
Services
Southern Java Lines: Argo Parahyangan (regular & additional) and Pangandaran. Central Java Lines: Purwojaya, Taksaka Hype Trip, Argo Lawu, Argo Dwipangga, Manahan, Argo Semeru, Bima and Gajayana. Northern Java Lines: Argo Cheribon (regular & facultative), Argo Sindoro, Argo Muria, Argo Merbabu, Argo Bromo Anggrek, Sembrani, Brawijaya and Pandalungan. Preceding station Following station       Bogor Line does not stop here
Route map Legend to Juanda to Gondangdia
Location Gambir Station Location in Jakarta

Gambir Station (Indonesian : Stasiun Gambir, station code: GMR) is a major railway station in Gambir, Gambir, Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. The station is located on the eastern side of Merdeka Square and the western side of the Pramuka Movement headquarters and Immanuel Church. It is operated by the KAI.

During the Dutch East Indies era, the station's name was Weltevreden Station, which later changed its name to Batavia Koningsplein Station after repairs were made in the 1930s. In the 1950s, its name was changed again to its current name, and major repairs were carried out to become an elevated station from 1988 to 1992.

Currently, Gambir Station serves as a terminus for most intercity trains operating across Java Island. One of Jakarta's main commuter lines, the KRL Commuterline Bogor Line (to Bogor) passes through this station but has not stopped here since 2012. ^[2] There are however, plans to reactivate the station as a stop for the commuters, due to the high volume of passengers that board and exit from Gambir's neighboring-commuter-only stations (Gondangdia and Juanda station). Originally, only executive and business class trains used Gambir Station, while all economy class trains and some executive and business class trains used Pasar Senen railway station instead. Since ca. 2016, the norm has changed when KAI introduced new types of economy class coaches in higher class trains e.g. Argo Parahyangan, in line with plans to gradually abolish business class trains. ^[3]

History

Ground-level station (1884-1992)

The Koningsplein/Weltevreden NIS station with Indische/Neoclassic architectural style

The Batavia-Koningsplein Station in 1930 after its renovation with Art Deco style building

Aerial view of Gambir Station in 1940

Gambir Station is located on the Batavia–Weltevreden section, the first section of the Batavia–Buitenzorg railway line which was inaugurated by the Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS). At its opening, the line stretched from near the old Sunda Kelapa port and south to what is now the Gambir area.

At first, Gambir station was thought to be a small railway stop (halte Koningsplein) which was inaugurated on September 16, 1871, simultaneously with the opening of the line's first section. ^{[4] [5]} The small and simple stop was situated on the southeast border of the Koningsplein. It was the southernmost stop of Batavia until 1873 when the line was extended to Meester Cornelis and Buitenzorg. ^[6]

The stop was later replaced by the larger and permanent Weltevreden Station, which opened on 4 October 1884 in the current location of Gambir Station. ^[7] Until 1906, the station was used to depart passengers for Bandung and Surabaya. Its building had a roof supported on cast iron bearings in a match with the Staatsspoorwegen (SS) design, according to a statement in 1881. It was designed in the neoclassical style which was popular in the 19th century. Until then the NIS had not placed roofs of this type, while the SS had placed them in several places. ^{[8] [9]}

In 1928 Weltevreden Station was renovated in Art Deco style. In 1937 the station was changed to Batavia Koningsplein Station and after Indonesian independence, it was changed again to Jakarta Gambir Station. The station did not change its form after Indonesian independence until 1971 because it was significantly extended in the same year. ^[10]

Elevated station and future developments (1992-present)

Aerial view of Gambir Station from the National Monument.

Interior view of Gambir Station.

In February 1988, at the same time as the construction of the Jakarta Kota–Manggarai elevated railway, the old Art Deco station building from the Dutch East Indies era was demolished and replaced with a new building which still exists today. On 5 June 1992, President Soeharto along with First Lady Siti Hartinah and government officials inaugurated the new Gambir Station by boarding the EMU train from Gambir Station to Jakarta Kota Station. ^[11]

There were 4 tracks at Gambir Station when it became an elevated line, and the station building is completely modern with a joglo architectural style and a lime green ceramic facade. ^{[10] [12]} The facade color has not changed, only the platform poles have been recolored into moss green. The project spent Rp432.5 billion and was not fully completed when it was inaugurated so it was able to fully operate a year later. ^{[13] [14]} After the construction was finished, the railway track below began to be removed and the area which was originally the old station yard had turned into a car park starting in 1994.

Based on the master plan made by the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, Gambir Station is planned to be a KRL Commuterline-only station. The master plan resurfaced when Manggarai Station was planned to be used as the terminus for non-KRL Commuterline passenger trains, to reduce the density of passenger train queues on the elevated railway which sometimes disrupts KRL Commuterline trips. As a result of this plan, the Ministry of Transportation decided to separate the KRL Commuterline and other rail lines after the Manggarai Station construction was completed. ^{[15] [16]} By its completion as the central station, all long/medium-distance passenger trains that terminate at Gambir Station will be moved to Manggarai Station in 2025. ^{[17] [18] [19] [20]}

Starting in February 2022, the SSI-type old electric signaling system produced by Siemens along with the Jakarta Kota–Manggarai elevated track has been replaced with the newest one produced by Len Industri.

Building layout and facilities

Main platform of Gambir station

The platform of Gambir Station old building in 1986 before it was rebuilt elevated

Gambir Station has four railway tracks, with tracks 2 and 3 being straight. After Eid al-Fitr 2012, the station was no longer used as a KRL Commuterline stop, and its passengers were diverted to either Gondangdia or Juanda stations. ^[2]

The Gambir Station current building consists of three floors. The main hall, counters, restaurants, shops, and ATMs are on the first floor. The second floor is the waiting area with several fast food restaurants and cafeterias, while the platforms and rail tracks are on the third floor. Announcements are made in Indonesian and English.

Old tracks were reinstalled on the original site of Gambir Station prior to 1992 renovation. A restaurant using former Rheostatic EMU rolling stock was planned above the reinstalled old tracks.

When Ignasius Jonan served as the president and director of KAI, it was planned to build a restaurant using original train units in the parking area. The planned tracks have been installed, and it is planned to use the 1978 class of the former Rheostatic EMU unit from Purwakarta Station as the restaurant. The unit was separated from other unused commuter trains and stored in Purwakarta locomotive depot because it was planned to be brought to Gambir Station. However, the plan was never realized, only the tracks were installed. The Rheostatic EMU unit chosen for the restaurant plan was also never brought and ended up being scrapped like other unused Rheostatic EMU units. The former rail track was still visible as of 2018 until it was finally demolished.

Gambir Station is now equipped with a Rail Transit Suite, a special transit hotel for train passengers. ^[21]

Services

The following is a list of train services at the Gambir Station

Intercity

• Argo Bromo Anggrek to Surabaya Pasar Turi
• Argo Dwipangga  [ id ] to Solo Balapan
• Argo Lawu  [ id ] Solo Balapan
• Argo Muria  [ id ] to Semarang Tawang
• Argo Sindoro  [ id ] to Semarang Tawang
• Argo Cheribon  [ id ] to Cirebon and Tegal
• Argo Parahyangan to Bandung
• Argo Semeru and Bima (train) to Surabaya Gubeng
• Brawijaya train  [ id ] to Malang
• Gajayana  [ id ] to Malang
• Purwojaya to Cilacap
• Sembrani  [ id ] to Surabaya Pasar Turi
• Taksaka  [ id ] to Yogyakarta
• Pangandaran (train)  [ id ] to Banjar
• Pandalungan  [ id ] to Jember (launched June 1, 2023, with the implementation of GAPEKA 2023)
• Papandayan (train)  [ id ] to Garut

KRL Commuterline

The Bogor Line passes through but skips the station since 2013, due to the station's busy intercity schedule. Commuter train passengers must use either Juanda or Gondangdia station and then other modes of transport to reach Gambir station. However, the station will be converted to a Commuterline-only station as intercity trains are planned to terminate at Manggarai station by 2025. ^{[19] [20]}

Supporting transportation

DAMRI bus

DAMRI buses from Gambir Station to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport run every day from 01:00 until 21:00. ^[22] The ticket price is Rp 40000.

City transport

Many local modes of transport service Gambir Station, including buses, minibuses, taxis, bajaj, and TransJakarta. All transportation lines noted are no more than 500 meters from the station.

TransJakarta

Two TransJakarta BRT stations near Gambir Station, namely Gambir (above) and Gambir 2 (below).

There are two main TransJakarta bus stations near Gambir Station, which are Gambir and Gambir 2. Aside from that, there are several feeder stops near the station.

Gambir serve routes:

• Corridor 2 towards Monas

Gambir 2 serve routes:

• Corridor 2 towards Pulogadung
• Corridor 2A towards Pulogadung

Feeder routes near the station:

• Corridor 1P (Senen - Bundaran Senayan) both direction
• Corridor 1R (Senen - Tanah Abang) towards Tanah Abang
• Corridor 2P (Gondangdia - Senen) towards Senen
• Corridor 2Q (Gondangdia - Balaikota)
• Corridor 5M (Kampung Melayu - Tanah Abang via Cikini) towards Tanah Abang
• Corridor 6H (Senen - Lebak Bulus) both direction

Regular Bus

• AJA.P P106 (Senen - Cimone)
• DSU P157 (Senen - Poris Plawad)
• Mayasari Bakti P14 (Tanah Abang - Tanjung Priok)
• MetroMini P15 (Senen - Setiabudi)
• Kopaja T502 (Tanah Abang - Kampung Melayu)

Gallery

• 
  The Argo Jati train arriving at Gambir Station on platform 3 from the north
• 
  Argo Jati Fakultatif train at the Gambir Station

See also

• Jakarta portal
• Indonesia portal

• Rail transport in Indonesia

References

1. Buku Informasi Direktorat Jenderal Perkeretaapian 2014 (PDF) (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Directorate General of Railways. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2023.{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
2. "KRL tak Berhenti di Gambir dan Pasar Senen | Republika Online". Republika Online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
3. Fasubkhanali (17 October 2016). "KAI Ubah Susunan Sejumlah Rangkaian Kereta Api". KAORI Nusantara (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 July 2021.
4. Lohanda, Mona. (2007). Sejarah para pembesar mengatur Batavia (Cet. 1 ed.). Depok: Masup Jakarta. ISBN   978-979-25-7295-7. OCLC   225750927.
5. Burgerlijke Openbare Werken (1896). Statistiek van het vervoer op de spoorwegen en tramwegen met machinale beweegkracht in Nederlandsch-Indië. Batavia: Landsdrukkerij.
6. "Mail overzicht". Java-bode (in Dutch). 16 September 1871. p. 3.
7. "Bekendmaking Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg-Maatschappij". Java-bode . 4 October 1884. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020.
8. Ensiklopedi Jakarta. Jakarta: Dinas Kebudayaan dan Permuseuman Provinsi DKI Jakarta. 2005. p. 417.
9. Tjandrasasmita, Uka (2000). Sejarah Perkembangan Kota Jakarta. Jakarta: Dinas Kebudayaan dan Permuseuman, DKI Jakarta. p. 50.
10. Merrillees 2012, p. 138.
11. Rudi, Alsadad (30 August 2013). Syatiri, Ana Shofiana (ed.). "Setelah 22 Tahun, Proyek Jalur Layang Kereta Jakarta Dilanjutkan". Kompas.com . Kompas.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
12. "Djawa Tempo Doeloe". Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
13. Kayang, U. (2019). Keping-keping Kota. Bantul: Basabasi. p. 92.
14. "Kereta Layang: Melayang di Atas Jalur Kumuh". Majalah Tempo. 22: 32. 1992.
15. Kusuma, Hendra. "Gambir Hanya Layani KRL dan Kereta Khusus Mulai 2021". detikcom . Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
16. Anwar, Muhammad Choirul. "Mulai 2021, Naik KRL Bisa Berhenti di Stasiun Gambir". CNBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
17. Anwar, Muhammad Choirul. "Meraba Masa Depan Stasiun Gambir & Manggarai, Sekeren Apa Ya?". CNBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
18. Hamdani, Trio. "Mengintip Suasana Stasiun Manggarai yang Bakal Gantikan Gambir". detikcom . Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
19. "Stasiun Gambir Bakal Dikembalikan Fungsinya untuk Commuter Line". Liputan6.com. KLY. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
20. "KRL Bakal Berhenti Lagi di Stasiun Gambir, Kereta Jarak Jauh Pindah ke Manggarai". Kumparan (in Indonesian). 8 June 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
21. "Ini Penampakan Hotel Transit Berbintang di Stasiun Gambir". detikcom . Detikcom.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
22. "Trayek & Tarif". Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.

Works cited

• Merrillees, Scott (2012). Greetings from Jakarta: Postcards of a Capital 1900-1950. Equinox Publishing. ISBN   9789793780887.

External links

• (in Indonesian) PT KAI Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine - the Indonesian rail company

Preceding station		Kereta Api Indonesia		Following station
Juanda towards Jakarta Kota		Jakarta Kota–Manggarai		Gondangdia towards Manggarai