Jakarta. The 36.3-kilometer railway line connecting Manggarai Station in South Jakarta with Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, will be operational in July, offering travelers a cheaper and faster alternative, state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II announced in a statement on Sunday (26/02).

"The operation of this train is quite important to support connectivity between Jakarta and the airport," Angkasa Pura II president director Muhammad Awaluddin said.

"It will also reduce the use of private vehicles and help reduce traffic congestion," he added.

It currently takes travelers about an hour by car or two-and-a-half hours by public transportation to travel between Manggarai Station and the airport during peak hours. The new train service however, will only take 45 minutes.

The train will be operated by Railink, a joint venture between Angkasa Pura II and Kereta Api Indonesia, and it will have a capacity of up to 35,000 passengers a day.

Meanwhile, the Rp 160 billion ($12 million) train station at Soekarno-Hatta airport will be ready by March, around the same time as the completion of a sky train service, which will connect three terminals at the airport.

The station will offer several facilities, including a waiting lounge, commercial area and prayer room.

The station will be able to accommodate up to 3,500 passengers at a time, which includes 2,000 on the platform and 1,500 in the station building.