Peak Return Flow After Long Weekend Expected Today, 189,734 Customers to Travel Back by Train
The journey home after a holiday always brings a different atmosphere. From behind the train window, customers enjoy the final moments of their trip while carrying stories, memories, and renewed energy before returning to their daily routines. As the Ascension Day long weekend comes to an end, the return flow has begun to be felt at various stations, marked by the increasing number of customers traveling back to their hometowns and activity centers for work, education, and business activities.
Since Wednesday, May 13, 2026, public mobility during the long holiday period has continued to increase. After spending their holiday traveling, visiting relatives, and gathering with family, customer movement is now dominated by return trips to cities that serve as centers of activity.
Amid this high mobility, trains have become a preferred transportation option that provides communities with a more comfortable and efficient return journey. There are students returning to their cities of study, workers preparing to resume their activities the following day, and families concluding their holiday trips with safe and peaceful journeys home.
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded that during the first four days of the long weekend period, a total of 733,009 customers used Long-Distance Train and Local Train services managed by KAI in Java and Sumatra.
Meanwhile, as of Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 10:00 WIB, ticket sales for departures during the May 13–17, 2026 period had reached 923,743 tickets. This number continues to increase in line with the high demand for travel during the holiday return flow.
Vice President of Corporate Communication KAI, Anne Purba, stated that the return flow period is an important phase in maintaining smooth public mobility after a long holiday.
“The return flow always brings very high public mobility within a relatively short period of time. Journeys back to Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang, and other major activity centers have started to dominate since the weekend. KAI continues to maintain services so that customers can return safely, comfortably, and on schedule,” said Anne.
According to Anne, the high mobility during the return flow also contributes to economic activity in various regions connected by railway services.
“The return journey flow helps keep economic activities moving. Areas around stations, connecting transportation services, culinary centers, and local businesses continue to experience high community activity until the end of the long holiday period,” added Anne.
The following is the temporary ticket sales occupancy during the long weekend period:
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026: 196,370 tickets
- Thursday, May 14, 2026: 197,368 tickets
- Friday, May 15, 2026: 160,687 tickets
- Saturday, May 16, 2026: 179,584 tickets
- Sunday, May 17, 2026: 189,734 tickets
The 10 destination stations with the highest temporary customer volumes during the long weekend period are:
1. Yogyakarta: 56,536 customers
2. Pasarsenen: 56,467 customers
3. Gambir: 53,295 customers
4. Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng: 37,620 customers
5. Bandung: 33,592 customers
6. Surabaya Gubeng: 30,985 customers
7. Purwokerto: 30,829 customers
8. Solo Balapan: 29,305 customers
9. Madiun: 28,035 customers
10. Surabaya Pasarturi: 27,292 customers
The increasing number of journeys toward major cities at the end of the long weekend shows how trains have become an important part of maintaining the rhythm of public mobility. This return flow is dominated by customers heading back to work centers, educational areas, and business locations after spending their holidays with family and relatives in various regions.
The return journey flow also continues to create economic movement until the end of the holiday period. Pick-up activities at stations increase, connecting transportation services become more dynamic, culinary centers remain busy, and MSMEs around station areas continue to benefit from the high activity of arriving and departing customers.
KAI continues to implement various service measures to ensure smooth customer journeys during the return flow, including train operational readiness, station service management, and optimization of digital travel information through the Access by KAI application. Customers are encouraged to arrive earlier at stations and recheck their travel schedules to ensure smooth departures.
“The return flow is an important moment because public mobility occurs in large volumes within nearly the same period. KAI continues to strive to keep customer journeys safe, comfortable, and on time so that people can return to their activities smoothly after the long holiday,” concluded Anne.
VP Corporate Communication KAI