Choo-Choo!: Train travel for tourists on track as Bali gov’t seeks to develop island’s infrastructure
Have you ever imagined traveling around Bali on a train? Well, that might soon be a reality as the Bali provincial government is currently working on long-term infrastructure projects, one of which aims to connect travelers directly with the island’s top tourist spots straight from Ngurah Rai International Airport.
“A good tourism industry must be supported with adequate infrastructure. We will be building several shortcuts to make it easier for tourists to travel around Bali,” said Bali governor I Wayan Koster, as quoted by Bali Citizen.
Wayan said the first step to improving transportation on the island would entail developing a railway network from the airport to several tourist areas.
“This is to make it easier for visitors, especially those who are in a hurry, to travel to the airport and vice versa,” Wayan said.
The Bali provincial government will be working closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation and implementation of the plans is set to commence in 2020, according to a report from Nusa Bali.
According to the head of planning at the Transportation Ministry’s Secretariat General, Gede Pasek Suardika, the plan to build railway network in Bali is in line with President Joko Widodo’s push to improve national infrastructure and connectivity.
While there are plenty of ways to get around Bali, most travelers still opt for scooters, taxis or car rentals. Other options like public transport buses and tourist shuttles are cheaper but not very well-developed.
