Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Bali will never be the same again



Imagine zipping around Bali on a fast train system, completely avoiding the resort island's notorious traffic chaos.

That may soon be a reality with first stone turned earlier this month for the new Bali Urban Rail Network.t

The new railway is expected to welcome its first passengers in 2031 and will link several of the most popular destinations.

The system is expected to be free for locals, but tourists could pay up $50 per head for a one-week pass, the Bali Sun newspaper is reporting.

Local politicians, regional leaders and business developers attended the construction launch event in Kuta.

Initial construction work is supposed to be completed in the second quarter of 2028, and the Bali Urban Rail Network should be fully operational by 2031 with underground rail tracks and overground stations.

Ari Askhara, director of PT Sarana Bali Dwipa Jaya (SBDJ), which is the main contractor for the project, told the media: “We want local residents to [travel] for free as long as they have a Bali ID card."

The acting governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, said the majority of the train users will be foreign tourists.

In April 2025, 10 boring tunnel machines will be imported into Bali to start creating the underground train network.

Construction teams this month will start creating the corridors needed for the heavy machinery.

The first train line will connect Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai international Airport with Kuta, Seminyak, Berawa in Canggu and Cemagi.

Three further lines are being considered with the second stage to connect the airport with Jimbaran, Unud and Nusa Dua while the third stage will extend from Kuta Central Park to Sesetan, Renon and Sanur.

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