172.3 Million Customers in Four Months, Rail Transportation Continues to Strengthen National Mobility

Public mobility across Indonesia continues to grow on a large scale. Work, education, trade, tourism, and intercity travel have driven demand for transportation that can serve the public more efficiently, punctually, and with better connectivity to various activity centers.

Amid this growing mobility, rail-based transportation is playing an increasingly important role in supporting the movement of people across different regions.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded a total of 172,359,716 KAI Group customers from January to April 2026, an increase of 9.14% compared to 157,923,002 customers during the same period last year.

Vice President of Corporate Communication KAI, Anne Purba, stated that this customer growth demonstrates how rail transportation has become an increasingly essential part of modern society, where reliable travel times and regional connectivity are critical.

“As cities become more densely populated and public mobility continues to increase, the need for high-capacity mass transportation becomes increasingly important. Rail transportation is evolving as an integral part of the mobility system that keeps people moving and economic activities running,” said Anne.

For Long-Distance and Local Train services operated by KAI, the number of customers increased by 8.52%, from 17,709,669 customers to 19,218,440 customers.

This increase reflects the high level of intercity mobility across various regions. Trains are now widely used to support business trips, education, tourism, homecoming travel, and everyday economic activities.

In destination cities such as Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Malang, and Banyuwangi, the growth in rail travel has also stimulated supporting sectors, including hotels, culinary businesses, feeder transportation services, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and economic zones surrounding railway stations.

Commuter Line services operated by KAI Commuter served 136,585,949 customers, representing an increase of 8.34% compared to 126,067,645 customers during the same period last year.

This figure shows that Commuter Line has become an integral part of daily urban life, particularly in Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Yogyakarta and Solo, Surabaya, and their surrounding areas. Millions of people rely on rail transportation every day to maintain efficient mobility amid increasingly congested roads.

Greater travel efficiency also contributes to urban productivity, as more reliable travel times help people carry out their daily activities more effectively.

Jabodebek LRT recorded the second-highest growth among KAI Group services, increasing by 26.47%, from 8,434,674 customers to 10,667,038 customers.

This growth reflects the increasing public acceptance of modern urban transportation powered by automated technology. Jabodebek LRT operates using GoA 3 (Grade of Automation 3) technology, an automated train operation system without a driver in the cabin, controlled through an operations control center.

The integration of Jabodebek LRT with Commuter Line, Jakarta MRT, Transjakarta, Whoosh, and other feeder transportation services has begun to create a more connected travel pattern for urban communities.

Areas connected by the rail network are increasingly developing into new activity centers due to easier and more efficient access to mobility.

Whoosh also recorded positive growth of 2.60%, increasing from 1,852,534 customers to 1,900,641 customers.

As Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway, Whoosh is shaping new travel patterns between Jakarta and Bandung by significantly reducing travel time. Intercity travel has become faster and more connected, offering a mobility experience comparable to traveling between neighboring areas within a single metropolitan region.

The integration between Whoosh and Jabodebek LRT through Halim Station further strengthens connectivity between urban and intercity transportation within a modern travel ecosystem.

KAI Airport Rail services recorded a 2.96% increase in customers, from 2,267,831 to 2,334,929 passengers.

This growth is in line with the increasing use of public transportation to and from airports. The services include the YIA Airport Rail, connecting downtown Yogyakarta with Yogyakarta International Airport, and the Srilelawangsa Airport Rail, supporting mobility to Kualanamu International Airport and surrounding areas.

In Palembang, the South Sumatra LRT served 1,441,069 customers from January to April 2026. The service supports public connectivity to the city center, educational institutions, business districts, and Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport.

In the tourism sector, KAI Wisata recorded the highest growth among all KAI Group services, increasing by 107.93%, from 48,745 customers to 101,357 customers.

This growth reflects changing travel preferences among the public. Rail transportation is increasingly becoming part of the tourism and leisure experience, as shown by growing interest in the Panoramic Train, heritage railway journeys, and other rail-based tourism services.

Traveling by train is now increasingly viewed as an opportunity to enjoy scenic landscapes, travel comfort, and social interaction throughout the journey.

In eastern Indonesia, the Makassar–Parepare Railway recorded a growth of 38.56%, increasing from 79,601 customers to 110,293 customers.

This increase reflects the strong enthusiasm of South Sulawesi residents for railway services. Rail transportation is creating new connectivity opportunities in eastern Indonesia while strengthening regional mobility.

Anne added that customer growth across KAI Group's services demonstrates the increasingly significant role of rail transportation in supporting regional development and public mobility throughout Indonesia.

“These figures show that public demand for rail transportation continues to grow. As mobility increases and regions continue to expand, rail based transportation will become increasingly important in supporting connectivity, productivity, and sustainable public mobility,” Anne concluded.

VP Corporate Communication KAI