Ketapang Station Strengthens Banyuwangi’s Role as a Mobility Hub During

Ketapang Station Strengthens Banyuwangi’s Role as a Mobility Hub During Nataru 2025/2026

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded stronger service performance at Ketapang Station during the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year transportation period (Nataru), from 18 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. During this period, Ketapang Station served 25,605 departing customers, an 11 percent increase, and 28,041 arriving customers, a 10 percent increase compared to the previous Nataru period.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said the achievement reflects the continued role of Ketapang Station as a mobility hub for communities and tourists in Banyuwangi. The steady passenger movement during the holiday period demonstrates the strong use of railways as a scheduled and comfortable mode of transportation.

During Nataru 2025/2026, the number of departing and arriving passengers at Ketapang Station ranked third highest in the Jember Operational Area 9. Jember Station served 67,743 departing and 63,765 arriving customers, followed by Banyuwangi Station with 31,029 departing and 31,715 arriving customers. Ketapang’s position among these stations reflects stable mobility distribution across the Tapal Kuda region of East Java.

Overall, Jember Operational Area 9 served 207,980 departing customers, an 11 percent increase from 187,888 customers during the previous Nataru period. The number of arriving customers reached 208,965, also increasing from 187,837 customers in the previous period. This regional performance is in line with the national trend, with KAI serving 4,179,095 customers during Nataru 2025/2026, an increase of 12.02 percent compared to 3,730,584 customers during Nataru 2024/2025.

In terms of services, Ketapang Station is served by several long-distance trains with strong occupancy levels. On the Malang–Jember–Ketapang route, the Ijen Ekspres train served 1,629 Executive Class customers and 4,956 Economy Class customers. The Tawang Alun train on the same route served 10,004 Economy Class customers, with an occupancy rate of 105 percent.

On the Surabaya–Jember–Ketapang route, the Mutiara Timur train departing from Surabaya Pasarturi served 3,630 Executive Class customers and 5,220 Economy Class customers, with occupancy rates of 101 percent for each class. The Probowangi train departing from Surabaya Gubeng served 11,954 Economy Class customers, with an occupancy rate of 104 percent. Meanwhile, the Mutiara Timur train with a nighttime departure from Surabaya Gubeng served 4,280 customers, reflecting the variety of travel times preferred by customers during the holiday period.

In addition to long-distance services, Ketapang Station also serves the Pandanwangi local train on the Jember–Ketapang round-trip route, supporting the daily mobility of communities in Banyuwangi and surrounding areas. For interprovincial travel, the Sri Tanjung train serving the Lempuyangan–Ketapang route also provides a popular long-distance travel option connecting Yogyakarta and Banyuwangi.

Anne added that passenger movement at Ketapang Station was also influenced by Banyuwangi’s appeal as a tourism destination. From the station, tourists can continue their journeys to coastal and marine destinations such as Watu Dodol Beach, Boom Beach, and Bangsring Underwater, as well as urban areas known for Banyuwangi’s diverse culinary offerings. This travel pattern positions railways as an integral part of a safe and connected tourism journey.

“Railway connectivity to Ketapang Station supports smooth mobility as well as tourism and economic activity in the region. It makes holiday travel more comfortable and integrated,” concluded Anne.

To support the travel experience, KAI continues to optimize its digital services through Access by KAI. The application allows customers to plan their journeys, purchase tickets, monitor schedules in real time, and access service information, enabling practical and efficient travel management during the Nataru holiday period.

VP Corporate Communication KAI