Long Weekend, Travel Stories Spread Across Various Cities, KAI Serves 956,265 Customers in Five Days
The Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijri long holiday period, which coincided with Pancasila Day, presented an interesting travel pattern. While community movements during homecoming periods are generally concentrated on certain days, this time customer journeys were spread more evenly throughout the holiday period. Various cities moved simultaneously, creating diverse travel stories connected through railway transportation.
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded that as of Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 10:00 WIB, ticket sales for the departure period from May 26 to June 1, 2026, had reached 1,308,106 tickets. This number still has the potential to increase as ticket sales continue. During the first five days of the long weekend period, namely May 26–30, 2026, KAI served 956,265 customers across operational areas in Java and Sumatra.
KAI Vice President Corporate Communication Anne Purba said that customer travel patterns during this year’s long weekend showed more flexible mobility. People utilized trains for various needs, ranging from tourism, visiting family, attending religious activities, to business trips that continued during the holiday period.
"We see that people are becoming more flexible in determining their travel times. Mobility is no longer concentrated on one particular day but is spread throughout the holiday period. This pattern shows that trains are being utilized for various activities taking place simultaneously in many regions," she said.
The following is the daily occupancy during the long weekend period of May 26–June 1, 2026:
- May 26, 2026: 215,311 customers
- May 27, 2026: 155,653 customers
- May 28, 2026: 176,866 customers
- May 29, 2026: 192,957 customers
- May 30, 2026: 215,478 customers
- May 31, 2026: 184,509 customers
- June 1, 2026: 167,332 customers
The data shows that travel demand remained high throughout the holiday period. After reaching more than 215 thousand customers at the beginning of the long weekend period, daily customer numbers remained above 155 thousand. This condition reflects a more evenly distributed movement of people, allowing economic, social, and tourism activities to grow more evenly across various regions.
This travel pattern is also reflected in the list of favorite trains used by customers during the long weekend period. Interestingly, the list shows how trains connect various characteristics of Indonesian regions, ranging from coastal areas, mountainous regions, cultural centers, to industrial and trade cities.
The following are the 10 favorite trains during the long weekend period:
1. KA Joglosemarkerto route Yogyakarta–Solo–Semarang–Purwokerto (round trip): 34,256 customers
2. KA Pariaman Ekspres route Naras–Pauhlima (round trip): 32,509 customers
3. KA Airlangga route Pasarsenen–Surabaya Pasar Turi (round trip): 31,499 customers
4. KA Siliwangi route Sukabumi–Cipatat (round trip): 30,742 customers
5. KA Serayu route Purwokerto–Pasarsenen/Kiaracondong (round trip): 28,832 customers
6. KA Ambarawa Ekspres route Semarang Poncol–Surabaya Pasar Turi (round trip): 27,136 customers
7. KA Kahuripan route Blitar–Kiaracondong (round trip): 27,076 customers
8. KA Pangrango route Bogor Paledang–Sukabumi (round trip): 26,619 customers
9. KA Putri Deli route Medan–Tanjung Balai (round trip): 26,172 customers
10. KA Sancaka route Yogyakarta–Surabaya Gubeng (round trip): 25,828 customers
The dominance of KA Joglosemarkerto shows the high mobility of communities in Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta. As its name suggests, this train connects Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang, and Purwokerto within an integrated travel network. The route connects centers of education, culture, government, trade, and tourism destinations that are busy during long holiday periods. Throughout the journey, customers can enjoy views of rice fields, historic urban areas, and the distinctive landscapes of Central Java as part of the railway travel experience.
In West Sumatra, KA Pariaman Ekspres once again became a favorite among communities enjoying journeys along the coastal area. From the train window, customers can see stretches of beaches, fishing activities, coastal settlements, and the distinctive landscape of the western coast of Sumatra. Meanwhile, KA Siliwangi and KA Pangrango offer travel experiences dominated by mountain scenery, green valleys, and rice fields stretching across Sukabumi and Cianjur.
For intercity services, KA Airlangga, Serayu, Ambarawa Ekspres, Kahuripan, and Sancaka continue to be choices for people traveling to various economic, educational, and tourism centers across Java. Meanwhile, KA Putri Deli plays an important role in supporting community mobility in North Sumatra through the Medan–Tanjung Balai route, which has long been one of the strategic transportation corridors in the region.
The diversity of routes included in the favorite list shows that trains have become an increasingly important part of broader community activities. Each journey brings benefits to many parties, from families who can reunite, business actors who gain economic opportunities, to destination areas that receive tourist movements and community activities from various cities.
"Behind every journey, there are parents waiting for their children to come home, families finally able to gather, friends meeting again, and hopes being pursued. Trains help make these meetings happen. When one journey takes place, the benefits are often felt far beyond the distance traveled," she said.
VP Corporate Communication KAI