Putra Remaja

PT Putra Remaja Sentosa

Putra Remaja bus with Jetbus3 body while traveling on Jalan Magelang, Mlati, Sleman
Founded	1980 (1980)
Headquarters	Jalan Siliwangi, Demakijo, Banyuraden, Gamping, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Service area	Java Bali (tourism) Sumatra
Service type	Intercity bus tourist bus shuttle bus
Fleet	150 units/day (2024)
Fuel type	Diesel
Chief executive	The Tiong Kwie
Website	putraremaja.co.id

PT Putra Remaja Sentosa is a Indonesian bus company founded in Muntilan, Magelang, Central Java, and currently headquartered in Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. This bus company offers three types of services: intercity buses and interprovincial buses on the Java–Sumatra route, shuttle buses serving Central Java and Yogyakarta, and tourist bus. Founded in 1980 as a separate entity from PO Remaja Express, this bus company is known as one of the Javanese bus companies that pioneered routes to Sumatra from Yogyakarta (alongside Handoyo, Maju Lancar, Ramayana, Prayogo, and Sumber Waras). The head office and main garage are located on Jalan Siliwangi, Banyuraden, Gamping, Sleman.

History

PO Putra Remaja began with the life journey of The Tiong Kwie, a Chinese-Indonesian born in Salatiga, Central Java, who later became known as Sutikno. In his youth, he migrated to Muntilan, Magelang, and worked for one of the largest bus companies in Magelang Regency, namely PO Ramayana. His career at the company began at the bottom as a conductor, then progressed to mechanic, and finally was trusted to drive a bus. Thanks to his perseverance, discipline, and the trust he built during his work, The was later given the responsibility to manage PO Remaja Express, a bus company led by the younger brother of the owner of PO Ramayana. It was from this experience managing a company that his desire to establish his own bus company grew.

The opportunity to realize this desire came when the owner of Remaja Express donated six buses to The. Of the six, only two were still roadworthy, while the other four were severely damaged. Using his technical skills and hard work, The gradually repaired the buses until they were ready for operation again. These buses then became the initial capital for establishing a new bus company named PO Putra Remaja. The company was founded with his partner, Suhartono, and began operating in Muntilan, with its bus garage and head office located at Jalan F.X. Suhaji No. 4, Muntilan, Central Java, and serving passenger transportation during the day.

For more than ten years in operation, PO Putra Remaja has shown steady growth and begun to generate consistent gains. As market needs changed, the company then shifted its operational schedule from day buses to night buses. In 1990, Putra Remaja officially focused its services as a night bus with the main routes Yogyakarta–DKI Jakarta and Yogyakarta–Serang, Banten]. This strategic change proved effective in increasing the company's competitiveness amidst the intense competition in the land transportation industry at that time.

The company's development continued until 1999 when the head office and main garage of PO Putra Remaja were moved to Yogyakarta, specifically on Jalan Ring Road Barat (Jalan Siliwangi), Demakijo, Banyuraden, Gamping, Sleman. In the same year, the company began expanding its routes outside of Java, particularly to the South Sumatra region. This move marked a new phase for Putra Remaja as a bus company serving not only intercity routes within Java but also inter-island routes, expanding its service reach.

Institutionally, in 2002, PO Putra Remaja officially changed its status from a sole proprietorship to a limited partnership (CV). Within this structure, The served as President Director with 60 percent ownership, while Suhartono held 40 percent. A year later, the company opened its longest route to Pekanbaru City, Riau, although this was still a temporary operation. Another significant development occurred in 2016 when the company's legal entity status was changed to a limited liability company under the name PT Putra Remaja Sentosa. Until the period of 2023–2024, under The's leadership as President Director, Putra Remaja has operated around 150 buses operating every day, confirming its position as one of the bus companies to be reckoned with in Indonesia.

Fleet

Putra Remaja bus with Legacy SR-3 body while traveling on the North Ring Road, Yogyakarta

PO Putra Remaja operates around 150 buses daily and is known as a bus company that actively updates its fleet. The company does not limit itself to one particular brand or type, either in terms of chassis or body, so its fleet always feels fresh and relevant to developments in the land transportation industry. New buses are received regularly through collaborations with various automotive brand agents and major body companies in Indonesia. This strategy enables Putra Remaja to provide competitive services, from executive to super executive class, with modern facilities that prioritize passenger comfort for long-distance travel.

In terms of chassis, Putra Remaja relies heavily on premium-class chassis with proven performance and reliability. One of the most prominent is the Mercedes-Benz OH 1626L Euro 4, which has a power of around 260 hp (190 kW) and is equipped with an air suspension system, thus providing optimal comfort on intercity and interisland routes. In addition, the previous fleet of Putra Remaja also used the chassis The long-standing non-Euro 4 Mercedes-Benz OH 1626 is known as the backbone of their operations, particularly on the long Java–Sumatra route. This chassis choice reflects the company's focus on durability, stability, and driving comfort.

Instead of relying solely on Mercedes-Benz, Putra Remaja also enriches its fleet with chassis from other manufacturers, such as the Scania K310iB. This Swedish chassis is known for its powerful, smooth, and efficient engine characteristics, making it suitable for high-end services. These Scania units are then assembled with the Legacy SR-2 HD Prime S bodywork produced by Laksana. This combination delivers a bus with high performance and a modern appearance, capable of competing in the premium segment and meeting passenger expectations for comfortable long-distance travel.

On the body side, Putra Remaja offers a wide variety of vehicles, depending on the fleet purchase period. The latest units often use the Laksana Legacy SR-3 HD Prime and Neo HD Prime Ultimate Edition bodies from Laksana, which feature elegant and futuristic designs. This body is equipped with double glass or thin headbands to improve visibility, reclining seats with USB ports in each row, as well as additional facilities such as toilet and television in the cabin. In addition to Laksana, Putra Remaja has also added a fleet with a Skylander R22 body from New Armada, and has units from Morodadi Prima. In the 2020–2021 period, a number of buses with Mercedes-Benz OH 1526 chassis also underwent a rebody process from Travego to Ventura. In addition, this PO is known as a loyal collector of Adi Putro Jetbus of various generations.

Distinctive

Visually, Putra Remaja buses are easily recognizable by their distinctive paint scheme. The dominant dark blue color combined with a white a grouse image painted or affixed to the bus body creates a strong identity for this company. According to The (Sutikno), the grouse image is an analogy for the phrase "Beli Bis," which reflects the company's commitment to continuously purchasing and adding new buses. This philosophy also reflects Putra Remaja's commitment to keeping its fleet modern, competitive, and attractive to passengers.

Routes

Intercity Buses

Putra Remaja Bus at Jombor Terminal

Since its inception, Putra Remaja has focused its business activities on intercity bus services as the backbone of its business. During its inception, the company operated major routes connecting Yogyakarta City with the Special Capital Region of Jakarta. This route selection reflects Putra Remaja's initial strategy to develop corridors with high passenger demand and dense intercity mobility. It was from this route that Putra Remaja's reputation as a provider of medium- to long-distance intercity bus services began to develop.

The route network expansion began in 1999 when Putra Remaja launched an inter-island service connecting Java and Sumatra. This expansion began with routes to cities in Lampung and South Sumatra, which served as important gateways for inter-island intercity bus services. This step shows the company's courage and long-term vision to not only rely on the Java market, but also reach the Sumatra region which has large passenger potential, especially for economic travel and inter-regional mobility.

The development of the Sumatra route continued in 2003 with the extension of the route to Pekanbaru, Riau. The addition of this route further strengthened Putra Remaja's position as a long-distance AKAP bus operator serving inter-island travel. With increasingly long distances, the company was required to improve the quality of its fleet and services to remain competitive. The Java–Sumatra route, with its longest route Jambi–Blitar, has become one of the main characteristics of Putra Remaja's operations, which distinguishes it from many other POs that only focus on routes within Java.

Entering the 2020s, Putra Remaja's route development has become even more significant with the launch of the Super Executive class service. This class began operating in early March 2022 for routes from Yogyakarta City and Surakarta City to Bandar Lampung City, Palembang City, and Jambi City. The Super Executive fleet is equipped with premium amenities such as a 2-1 configuration with leg rests, restrooms, meal and snack services, and USB ports at every seat. The rates offered are in the range of IDR 550,000 to IDR 700,000, depending on the final destination. The introduction of this class aims to improve the comfort of long-distance travel by utilizing the Trans-Java Toll Road and crossings using executive-class ferries to ensure more efficient travel times.

Despite experiencing rapid route growth, Putra Remaja's intercity and intercity bus operations also face a number of challenges. One incident occurred in March 2024, when a bus unit was confiscated by joint authorities at Tirtonadi Bus Terminal, Surakarta, because it was about to depart for Sumatra without complete operating permits and route documents, and only carrying a photocopy of the STNK. This incident is an important note regarding the administrative compliance aspect in managing inter-island routes. The incident reflects the dynamics and risks faced by the company in its efforts to expand its long-distance AKAP service network. Starting on March 8, 2026, Putra Remaja again serves the Yogyakarta City–DKI Jakarta intercity bus service, this time starting its journey from Kampung Rambutan Terminal, East Jakarta.

Non-route business

Shuttle bus

In addition to intercity and regional public transportation (AKAP) services, Putra Remaja has also responded to changing transportation trends since the 2010s by operating a shuttle bus service. This service is increasingly popular in Central Java and Yogyakarta because it is considered more flexible, comfortable, and safe than intercity buses or intercity buses within the province. The main advantage of the shuttle is its door-to-door pickup system, eliminating the need for passengers to visit the bus terminal. Responding to the shift in public interest from "bumel" buses to shuttles, Putra Remaja developed a shuttle network that serves various important cities in Central Java and DIY.

Tour Bus

Beyond regular services, Putra Remaja also operates a tour bus business to complement its portfolio. This service offers bus rentals for tours, group visits, and other purposes, especially during the holiday season. Putra Remaja's tour buses are a popular choice due to their relatively modern and well-maintained fleet. According to the marketing team, the tourist bus rental rates are flexible and adjust to the holiday season demand, duration of use, and travel destination, thus providing an alternative group transportation with price variations that can be adjusted to customer needs.

References

Bibliography

• Bessy, Yonaldi Panggar (2006). Computerized System for Processing Bus Ticket Sales Data for PO Putra Remaja Yogyakarta (Diploma thesis). STMIK AKAKOM Yogyakarta.
• Muwita, M.F. (2024). Field Work Practice Report at PT Putra Remaja Sentosa (Report). Politeknik YKPN Yogyakarta.

External links

• Official website

Template:Bus companies in Indonesia

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