Purwojaya Train Passengers Increase by 84.55 Percent, Cilacap–Jakarta Corridor Reaches 408 Thousand Passengers

Train travel from southern Java to Jakarta is becoming increasingly popular. This is reflected in the growth in Purwojaya Train passengers, which reached 408,961 passengers from January to September 2026. This figure represents an increase of 84.55 percent compared to the same period in 2025, when 221,601 passengers were recorded. In other words, there were an additional 187,360 passengers in nine months.
 

Purwojaya Train operates on the Cilacap–Kroya–Gambir route, serving both directions and connecting Cilacap and surrounding areas with Jakarta through southern Java. This growth shows that travel to the capital is not only busy from major cities but is also increasingly popular among people from areas such as Cilacap and its surroundings.
 

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said that each railway route has different characteristics and travel needs. Passenger data is one way to understand how public mobility continues to develop.
 

“Purwojaya passengers grew by more than 84 percent in nine months. This shows that demand for travel to Jakarta is increasing, including from Cilacap and surrounding areas,” Anne said.
 

The high mobility of people in southern Central Java is also reflected in tourism activities. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data shows that Cilacap Regency recorded approximately 3.16 million domestic tourist trips from January to July 2026, while Banyumas Regency recorded approximately 4.84 million trips during the same period.
 

In terms of trip origins, BPS also recorded approximately 3.11 million domestic tourist trips originating from Cilacap Regency and approximately 3.10 million trips originating from Banyumas Regency from January to July 2026. This data provides an overview of the high volume of movement in southern Central Java, although not all these trips were made by train.
 

The increase in Purwojaya Train passengers illustrates how intercity trains are playing an increasingly important role in supporting various travel needs. From work, education, and business to visiting family and travelling for leisure, each journey has different requirements.
 

For KAI, passenger growth serves as one of the evaluation factors for assessing capacity needs, departure schedules, travel times, and services that suit the characteristics of each route. This allows service development to be based on actual passenger needs in the field.
 

“Data for each train helps us understand passenger needs in greater detail. When a route shows significant growth, we can evaluate service requirements based on the travel patterns observed,” Anne said.
 

The growth of Purwojaya Train also shows that the potential for rail travel does not come only from major cities. Regional activity centers also play an important role in driving intercity mobility, including travel to Jakarta.
 

KAI will continue monitoring passenger numbers, seat occupancy rates, and travel patterns across different periods to support service improvements on every route.
 

“Every route has its own story and travel needs. By understanding public mobility patterns, KAI can continue adjusting capacity and services to make journeys more comfortable and better suited to passenger needs,” Anne concluded.