Bandung Becomes a Long Weekend Magnet, Rail Mobility in West Java Continues to Increase

The Ascension Day long weekend has driven increased public mobility toward Bandung and various cities across West Java. The cool climate, heritage areas, culinary destinations, and Bandung’s café culture have once again attracted people looking to spend their long holiday with family and friends.

Amid the high volume of vehicles heading to Bandung, which reached 87,918 vehicles on Friday, May 15, 2026, trains have become one of the preferred travel options for reaching Bandung with more predictable travel times and greater comfort during the long holiday period.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded high customer mobility in the Bandung Operational Area (Daop) 2 region during the May 13–17, 2026 long weekend period. As of Saturday, May 17, 2026, at 10:00 WIB, a total of 91,678 Long-Distance Train customers were recorded departing from various stations within the Daop 2 Bandung area, from Purwakarta to Banjar.

The Parahyangan Train became one of the community’s favorite services during this long holiday period. Based on temporary data as of May 17, 2026, at 10:00 WIB, a total of 18,006 customers had used or were scheduled to use the Parahyangan Train during the long weekend period.

In addition to the Parahyangan Train, several other Long-Distance Train services operating through Bandung Station also recorded high passenger volumes, including the Papandayan, Argo Wilis, Malabar, Sangkuriang, Lodaya, Ciremai, and Harina trains.

The high level of mobility was also reflected in popular travel routes to Bandung. Currently, the Bandung–Gambir route recorded 8,038 customers, while the Gambir–Bandung route reached 7,624 customers.

Vice President of Corporate Communication KAI, Anne Purba, stated that travel patterns toward Bandung during this long weekend demonstrate that rail transportation remains a preferred alternative, especially for short intercity journeys.

“Bandung offers a complete tourism experience, from its cool city atmosphere, culinary destinations, creative areas, to various family activities. Trains have become a preferred choice because the journey is more practical, allowing customers to enjoy their holidays in a more relaxed way,” said Anne Purba.

Public mobility in West Java during the long weekend was also reflected in the high usage of Local Train services. During the May 13–16, 2026 period, a total of 208,942 customers used Local Train services in the Daop 2 Bandung area, including the Bandung Raya Commuter Line and Garut Commuter Line.

This figure increased by 2.87 percent compared to the same period in the previous week, May 6–9, 2026, which recorded 203,112 customers. The high volume of local travel shows that activities across the Bandung Raya and Garut areas continued throughout the long holiday period, including tourism, family visits, and daily mobility.

The increase in mobility was also reflected in the Whoosh high-speed rail service. During the four-day period from May 13–16, 2026, a total of 75,097 customers used the Whoosh service. This number increased by 17.80 percent compared to the May 6–9, 2026 period, which recorded 63,748 customers.

According to Anne, travel trends during the long weekend demonstrate that rail transportation plays an important role in supporting public mobility toward various tourism destinations and activity centers in West Java.

“Rail transportation helps people enjoy more comfortable and predictable journeys during long holidays. Customers also have more time to enjoy the atmosphere of the city, spend time with family, and experience their journeys in a more relaxed way,” Anne concluded.

VP Corporate Communication KAI