August 17 Marks Peak of Independence Day Long Weekend, KAI Serves 216,158 Customers in a Single Day

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (KAI) recorded August 17, 2026, as the day with the highest customer volume during the Independence Day long weekend. A total of 216,158 customers used KAI-operated Long-Distance and Local Train services on Independence Day, marking the highest daily volume during the August 14–17, 2026 period.

Overall, KAI served 800,651 customers over the four-day period. Customer traffic reached 190,353 on August 14, increased to 202,327 on August 15, then reached 191,813 on August 16, before peaking at 216,158 customers on August 17, 2026.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said the travel peak coinciding with Indonesia's 81st Independence Day reflected strong public mobility during the holiday period. People traveled for various purposes, including visiting family, taking vacations, and returning to the cities where they work and carry out their daily activities.

"The travel peak occurred on August 17. Behind these figures were people reuniting with their families, enjoying their holiday, visiting tourist destinations, and returning to the cities where they carry out their daily activities. KAI continues to ensure that every journey is safe, comfortable, and smooth," Anne said.

The peak travel period coincided with KAI's 17 percent discount program for commercial economy-class Long-Distance Trains departing specifically on August 17, 2026. By the end of the program, a total of 31,634 tickets had been sold at the discounted fare.

Anne said the positive customer response to the discount program was an encouraging sign for KAI. The special fare provided customers with a more affordable travel option on Independence Day while coinciding with the highest level of customer mobility during the long weekend.

"Public response to the 17 percent discount was very positive. We saw that the special fare was an attractive option for customers planning to travel on Independence Day, particularly as intercity mobility reached a high level during the holiday period," Anne said.

Of the 800,651 customers served from August 14–17, a total of 380,775 traveled on long-distance services, 304,176 on medium-distance services, and 115,700 on short-distance services. By service type, 576,099 customers used commercial trains, 222,619 used Public Service Obligation (PSO) trains, and 1,933 used pioneer train services.

The long weekend also saw high activity at several stations. Yogyakarta Station recorded the highest number of departing customers at 52,108, followed by Pasar Senen Station with 52,053, Gambir Station with 49,871, Semarang Tawang Station with 31,919, and Surabaya Gubeng Station with 29,162.

For destination stations, Yogyakarta once again recorded the highest volume with 51,875 customers, followed by Pasar Senen with 45,524, Gambir with 45,147, Semarang Tawang with 34,740, and Bandung with 27,259. This distribution reflects strong mobility toward cities that serve as major activity centers as well as popular tourist destinations during the holiday period.

Intercity travel patterns were also evident in the routes selected by customers. The Gambir–Yogyakarta route recorded the highest volume with 10,688 customers, followed by Yogyakarta–Gambir with 10,278, Gambir–Semarang Tawang with 8,031, Semarang Tawang–Gambir with 7,380, and Lempuyangan–Pasar Senen with 6,870.

Among commercial train services, KA Joglosemarkerto recorded the highest customer volume, serving 19,369 customers from August 14–17, 2026. It was followed by KA Sancaka with 17,942 customers, KA Kaligung with 17,647, KA Ambarawa Ekspres with 15,780, and KA Pangrango with 15,620.

Anne said these travel patterns demonstrate the important role of rail transportation in connecting people during national holidays. The theme of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day, "A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia," also serves as an inspiration for KAI employees to maintain interregional connectivity through consistent and reliable services.

"The Independence Day long weekend brought many destinations together through one journey. Families reunited, tourists explored cities across Indonesia, and people returned to the centers of their daily activities. Our customers' trust is the energy that motivates KAI employees to continue providing the best possible service on every journey," Anne concluded.

VP Corporate Communication KAI