KAI’s 81st Anniversary: “Semakin Melayani” Toward a World-Class Operator
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) commemorated its 81st Anniversary through a ceremony held at the KAI Head Office in Bandung on Monday (September 28). Carrying the theme “Semakin Melayani,” this year’s anniversary serves as a momentum for KAI to continue its corporate transformation through improvements in service quality, safety, efficiency, innovation, and sustainability.
President Director of KAI Bobby Rasyidin said KAI’s 81-year journey is part of the long history of Indonesia’s railway industry, which has spanned 159 years. The construction of Indonesia’s first railway line, Semarang–Tanggung, began on June 17, 1864, and continued to develop into an important part of public mobility, goods distribution, and economic activities across regions.
This journey entered an important chapter on September 28, 1945, when Indonesian railway workers took control of the railway system from the colonial authorities. The event marked the establishment of Djawatan Kereta Api Republik Indonesia and was subsequently commemorated as Railway Day.
“Eighty-one years after that moment, KAI continues to carry out its role in serving the public and supporting connectivity across Indonesia. The theme ‘Semakin Melayani’ reflects our commitment to ensuring that every aspect of the company’s growth and transformation is accompanied by improvements in service quality and benefits for the public,” said Bobby.
Entering its 81st year, KAI operates on an increasingly larger scale of services and performance. Throughout the first semester of 2026, KAI Group served 258,993,359 customers, an increase of 7.55 percent compared to 240,805,920 customers during the same period last year. During the same period, KAI’s consolidated revenue reached approximately IDR 18 trillion.
Bobby said this growth serves as a foundation for KAI to improve service quality while maintaining the company’s growth. Along with the development of its transportation business, KAI continues to develop non-transportation revenue through asset optimization, area development, and the creation of new sources of revenue.
The company’s transformation is carried out through improvements to railway services, station revitalization, tourism service development through The Nusantara Explorer, as well as asset utilization to support housing integrated with public transportation. These developments are aimed at addressing changing public mobility needs while creating opportunities for the company’s future growth.
“Growth brings greater responsibility. The continuously increasing need for mobility must be addressed through increased service capacity and reliability, strengthened facilities and infrastructure, as well as safety and intermodal integration. Going forward, every investment and transformation must further strengthen KAI while providing broader benefits for the public. This is the meaning of ‘Semakin Melayani’ that we are realizing together,” said Bobby.
In line with the company’s transformation, KAI carries the vision of “Driving the Creation of an Efficient and Sustainable Railway Service Ecosystem Toward a World-Class Operator.”
This vision serves as KAI’s direction in developing an efficient, integrated, and technology-adaptive railway service ecosystem that is capable of addressing the needs of passenger mobility and national logistics.
To achieve this vision, KAI carries out three missions. First, to provide railway-based passenger mobility services that prioritize safety, punctuality, comfort, efficiency, and sustainability.
Second, to provide efficient, reliable, and integrated railway-based transportation and logistics solutions to support the reduction of national logistics costs.
Third, to drive innovation through digitalization and technological advancement, non-farebox business development, organizational capability enhancement, and strengthening governance in the railway sector.
“This vision and mission serve as the direction for KAI to continue growing with service as its primary orientation. Safety remains the priority in every journey, accompanied by improvements in service reliability, technology utilization, business development, and organizational capabilities that can adapt to changing public needs,” said Bobby.
The 81st Anniversary commemoration at the KAI Head Office was also marked by the presentation of a MURI record award for the EduTrain program with the largest number of participants using Whoosh.
EduTrain is an educational travel program that introduces modern transportation to children from orphanages through an experience using the Whoosh High-Speed Train. The program, a collaboration between KAI and KCIC, was carried out in two batches, namely as part of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia and the 81st Anniversary of KAI.
Through EduTrain, participants gained experience using Whoosh while learning more about Indonesia’s railway industry. The program also aims to foster motivation, enthusiasm for learning, and courage among children to pursue their aspirations.
The EduTrain series included an educational journey, interactive sessions on KAI and public transportation, inspirational classes, an introduction to Whoosh technology and services, educational games, and appreciation for participants.
“We hope this travel experience broadens the children’s understanding of the development of transportation in Indonesia while fostering their enthusiasm to continue learning and the courage to pursue their aspirations. The younger generation will play an important role in continuing Indonesia’s journey in the future,” said Bobby.
Bobby said KAI’s journey and achievements to date are the result of the work of all KAI employees, supported by their families. This togetherness must continue to be maintained so that KAI can be a place for its employees to grow, create, and provide the best service to the public.
The 159-year journey of Indonesia’s railway industry demonstrates how rail-based transportation continues to develop in line with public needs and the changing times. Meanwhile, KAI’s 81-year journey serves as a reminder that every generation has a responsibility to maintain safety, improve performance, and continue the development of Indonesia’s railway industry.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all KAI Group employees and their families for their hard work, dedication, and support. Let us make this 81st Anniversary a momentum to strengthen togetherness, maintain safety, improve performance, and provide the best service to the public,” said Bobby.
“Happy 81st Anniversary to PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero). KAI, Semakin Melayani,” concluded Bobby.
VP Corporate Communication KAI