Argo Parahyangan

Argo Parahyangan, also commonly known as GOPAR is an executive and economy premium class train operated by Indonesian Railway Company (PT Kereta Api Indonesia) between Gambir railway station, Jakarta and Bandung in Java, Indonesia. The train covers 166 km in 2 hours 50 minutes (avevage time). From Jakarta to Bandung the train stops at Bekasi and Cimahi where as from Bandung to Jakarta it stops only at Jatinegara. KAI operates 34 trips daily in the route.

Etymology
The train is named after Parahyangan or Priangan or Preanger, which is a cultural and mountainous region in West Java.

This train is a combination of names from the previous Argo Gede and Parahyangan service. Argo Gede train was an executive class train for the same route, which has been used since 1995. Parahyangan train was a business class train that has been used since 1971. During the initial period of operation since 2010, Argo Parahyangan train also became the first Argo class train to have a class other than the executive class. At present Argo Parahyangan train only has business and executive services.

History
Argo Parahyangan began its operation on 27 April 2010–by merging two train services with the same route, namely Parahyangan and Argo Gede trains.

Parahyangan (1971–2010)
The State Railways Company (Perusahaan Negara Kereta Api or PNKA) launched the Parahyangan train on 31 July 1971 with business and executive class services to travel from Bandung to Jakarta in two hours and three minutes.

At the beginning of its operation, this train often operated with the BB301 locomotive as towing. The BB304 locomotive was once operated as a towing vehicle before being replaced by the CC201 locomotive.

In 2005, the Parahyangan train operated with two executive class trains and three business class trains in one series as a result of a decrease in passenger occupancy levels due to the operation of the Cikampek–Purwakarta–Padalarang (Cipularang) toll road—the journey from Jakarta to Bandung at that time was faster. To increase passenger occupancy, KAI had imposed a fare discount starting 7 March 2008 before this train service was discontinued on 27 April 2010.

Argo Gede (1995–2010)
The Argo Gede train is the first Argo train service to operate from 31 July 1995. The name "Argo Gede" is taken from Mount Gede, one of the mountains in West Java. This train service was launched at Gambir Station by Perumka simultaneously with the inauguration of the JS-950 Argo Bromo train and the launch of the CC203 locomotive. During its operation, this train travels from Jakarta to Bandung for 2.5 hours and operates using a series of trains made by INKA released in 1995. As of October 1999, this train served two trips a day and the fare was set at Rp40,000.00.

PT KA then launched the Argo Gede II train service on 20 May 2001—along with the launch of the Argo Muria II and Gumarang trains—to increase the number of trips across Jakarta–Bandung.

Several Jakarta-Bandung route services experienced a decrease in occupancy rates due to the operation of the Cipularang toll road in 2005. Even so, the occupancy rate of the Argo Gede train was higher when compared to the Parahyangan train.

Business and Executive class (2010-2016)
The Argo Parahyangan train is the result of the fusion of Argo Gede and Parahyangan train services since 26 April 2010 as well as the result of KAI's response to passengers' disappointment after the operation of the Parahyangan train was stopped. The Argo Parahyangan train had operated with a series of trains consisting of three to four executive class trains (former Argo Gede train) and two to three business class trains (former Parahyangan train).

Economy and Executive class (2016-2017)
Since 25 October 2016, the Argo Parahyangan train business class service has been changed to economy plus class. The economy plus class train series used is a series of trains made by INKA released in 2016—once used for the operation of the Mutiara Selatan train or other trains that were criticized by the public for reasons of convenience, namely the narrow distance between seats —so this train  began to serve the executive class and economy plus. In addition, the number of trips was added due to an increase in occupancy rates.

2017–present


Between 2017 and 2019, this train began operating using a series of trains made by INKA for the premium economy class released in 2017 and executive class made of stainless steel released in 2018 for additional train services. In addition, this train will start serving priority services on 9 March 2018. The regular Argo Parahyangan train will be replaced with a series of trains made by INKA made of stainless steel starting in 2019.

KAI launched a train service with a shorter travel time (2 hours 50 minutes), namely Argo Parahyangan Excellence, starting on 1 October 2019.

According to the 2021 train travel chart (Grafik Perjalanan Kereta Api or Gapeka), this train has four regular round trips and six optional train trips.

As of 3 February 2023, the Argo Parahyangan train got additional Panoramic Train services which operates throughout the month of February 2023 on Friday for train number 44A and Sunday for train number 51A.

However, on 1 June 2023 followed by the enactment of the new train travel chart for 2023, Kiaracondong Station will not be served by the Argo Parahyangan train from the previous chart, Gapeka 2021 which is still valid today where some schedules serve this station with executive and luxury classes which still operating on any given day.

Facilities
At present 17 trains of several types of Argo Parahyangan series operate. The latest Argo Parahyangan Excellence train is the fastest among different types, which takes journey at 2 hours and 50 minutes.

For the Turangga series, the train uses CC206 locomotive consisting of one generator train, six executive train carriages, and one dining car. Harina series uses CC206 locomotive consisting of one economy train carriage, two business train carriages, four executive train carriages, one generator train, and one dining car.

Argo Parahyangan Regular train series usually consists of four economies plus train carriages, four executive carriages, one dining, and one power generator car. As for the additional trains, the series consists of one generator train, one dining car, four executive train carriages, and three economy train carriages.

The new configured train, which was inaugurated in March 2018, has capacity of 400 seats passengers per train, consisting of eight executive carriages, one dining train with praying facility, and one generator carriage. Each coach has Two 32-inch TV, installed at the front and rear end, and two 19-inch screens hang on the ceiling of the train. The train is equipped with modern technology such CCTV and smoke detector. Seats have sleep and reading lights, audio jack for earphone or headset, fold-able mini tables on the armrests, and separate cabin baggage.

Additionally Argo Parahyangan that departs from Gambir at 08.45 WIB and 18.45 WIB, and from Bandung at 05.00 WIB and 14.15 WIB, has one Priority class coach with seating capacity of 28 passengers. This train car has extra facilities such as audio video on demand (AVOD) in every seat, a minibar, 52-inch flat screen TV, special attendants, luxurious toilet, as well as premium seats.

Train Schedule
schedule as of 10 February 2021

Incidents

 * On 30 May 2014, the Argo Parahyangan train derailed in Depok, Darangdan, Purwakarta towards Cikadongdong Station which resulted in two trains and a locomotive derailing. Apart from that, the journey of the Serayu train was diverted and hundreds of passengers on the Argo Parahyangan train were stranded.
 * On 26 August 2019 at 13:00, Argo Parahyangan train numbered 32 collided with an employee transport bus at the Warungbambu level crossing, East Karawang, Karawang because the bus broke down while crossing the railroad crossing. This incident resulted in the glass of the motto lamp on the locomotive breaking, the generator train and the car being damaged. There were no casualties in the incident because the driver and passengers got out to avoid the accident. However, train travel was hampered.
 * On 21 December 2019 at 22:15, The Argo Parahyangan train crashed into a car on a level crossing in Cibitung, Wanasari, Cibitung, Bekasi Regency which resulted in the car being badly damaged and seven passengers dying at the accident site. In addition, the left fog light on the locomotive broke then made an extraordinary stop at Tambun Station to inspect the locomotive.