Year-End Holidays Are Approaching, KAI Adds 50 Daily Train Services for the 2026/2027 Christmas and New Year Season

The Christmas and New Year holiday season (Nataru) is one of the busiest travel periods in Indonesia. To anticipate the increase in passenger demand, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (KAI) is adding 50 train services per day and providing millions of seats for people traveling during the year-end holidays.

For the 18-day 2026/2027 Nataru transportation period, running from December 17, 2026, to January 3, 2027, KAI Group is preparing capacity for up to 50.36 million customers, a 1% increase. The company will operate 41,308 train trips, representing 2% growth compared to the previous period.

For intercity services, KAI is providing 2,962,836 seats, a 2% increase. Of the 50 additional daily train services, four are part of the Free Motorcycle Transportation Program (Motis). These additions will give customers more travel schedules and destinations to choose from during the holiday season.

Travel options will also expand starting December 1, 2026, with the implementation of the 2026 Train Travel Schedule (GAPEKA 2026). The revised schedule will add 8,466 seats per day, comprising 5,166 seats across Java and 3,300 across Sumatra. It will also introduce additional stops on 84 train services, shorter travel times on 78 services, and 39 additional scheduled passenger train trips per day.

One of the new services introduced under the revised schedule is KA Pandawa, operating on the Semarang–Solo–Yogyakarta route. Starting December 1, 2026, the train will operate four trips daily, with a journey time starting from 2 hours and 37 minutes. Several other services will also increase their frequencies: KA Brawijaya by two trips, KA Sri Lelawangsa by four trips, KA Datuk Belambangan by one trip, and KA Batara Kresna from four to eight trips per day.

In addition to expanded services, customers can benefit from a government stimulus program offering a 30% discount on commercial Economy Class tickets. The discount applies to departures from December 22, 2026, to January 4, 2027. Initiated by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs together with relevant ministries, including the Directorate General of Railways under the Ministry of Transportation, the program has been open for bookings since November 7, 2026, through the Access by KAI app and other official ticket sales channels.

KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin explained that Nataru preparations go beyond transportation capacity and travel options. They also cover rolling stock and infrastructure readiness, as well as personnel deployed in the field. These measures are intended to maintain safety and ensure smooth journeys throughout the year-end holiday period.

To support operational safety, KAI is deploying 1,156 additional infrastructure personnel, consisting of 778 Level Crossing Guards (PJL), 271 Track Inspectors (PPJ), and 107 Vulnerable Area Monitoring Officers (PDR). The company is also conducting special monitoring at 107 designated monitoring locations (DAPSUS) across Java Area 1 to anticipate potential infrastructure disruptions.

Bobby emphasized that personnel will monitor track conditions, supervise level crossings, and inspect locations requiring special attention. These preparations are part of KAI's efforts to maintain safe and smooth train operations as travel activity increases during the Nataru period.