Serving 730,575 Passengers, Joglosemarkerto Becomes the Leading Commercial Train in the First Semester of 2026

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded the Joglosemarkerto train as one of the public’s favorite services during the first semester of 2026. Overall, all Joglosemarkerto train schedules served 730,575 passengers, an increase of 10.29 percent compared to the first semester of 2025, which recorded 662,409 passengers.

Two Joglosemarkerto services also ranked at the top among commercial trains with the highest passenger volumes. Train No. 187 Joglosemarkerto ranked first by serving 268,545 passengers, followed by Train No. 193 Joglosemarkerto with 253,411 passengers during January–June 2026.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication, Anne Purba, stated that the high level of interest in Joglosemarkerto is closely related to its distinctive travel pattern. This service connects various cities in Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta through a circular route.

“Joglosemarkerto meets diverse intercity travel needs. Customers use it for work, education, business, visiting family, accessing healthcare services, and enjoying tourism destinations,” said Anne.

Train No. 187 Joglosemarkerto serves the Solo Balapan–Semarang Tawang–Tegal–Purwokerto–Solo Balapan–Semarang Tawang route. Meanwhile, Train No. 193 serves the Solo Balapan–Purwokerto–Tegal–Semarang Tawang–Solo Balapan route.

This travel pattern connects Solo and Yogyakarta—known for strong education, cultural, and tourism activities—with Purwokerto as a hub for Banyumas and surrounding communities; Tegal and Pekalongan with their trade and industrial activities; and Semarang as a center of government, industry, construction, trade, and services in Central Java.

The characteristics of Joglosemarkerto’s journey allow a single seat to be used alternately by multiple passengers within one trip. After a passenger arrives at their destination, the same seat can be booked again by another passenger for the next segment.

This pattern is reflected in the occupancy rates of Train No. 187 at 255 percent and Train No. 193 at 241 percent during the first semester of 2026. Occupancy rates above 100 percent indicate seat turnover across multiple travel segments, rather than the number of passengers on board at the same time.

For example, a seat used by a passenger traveling from Solo to Semarang can then be used again by another passenger for the Semarang–Pekalongan or Semarang–Tegal segment. With this pattern, available capacity can serve more intercity travel demand.

“Joglosemarkerto passengers come from many cities with different destinations. The high seat turnover shows that this service is relevant for short-, medium-, and long-distance travel,” Anne added.

Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) provides insight into regional activity along the Joglosemarkerto route. BPS Central Java Province recorded economic growth of 5.89 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year, with the accommodation and food service sector recording the highest increase at 14.14 percent. This data was released on May 5, 2026.

During the same period, the economy of the Special Region of Yogyakarta grew by 5.84 percent, with the accommodation and food service sector recording the highest increase at 11.59 percent. The data was released by BPS DI Yogyakarta on May 5, 2026 for the first quarter of 2026.

On the northern corridor, BPS Semarang City recorded economic growth of 6.49 percent throughout 2025. Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices reached IDR 288.05 trillion, with manufacturing, construction, and trade as the main contributors. This data was released on April 22, 2026.

Pekalongan City also has an economy closely tied to trade and industry. Based on BPS Pekalongan City data released on December 29, 2025, wholesale and retail trade, as well as vehicle repair, contributed 20.76 percent to the city’s GRDP in 2024. Manufacturing contributed 19.86 percent, while construction accounted for 15.84 percent.

On the southern corridor, BPS Banyumas Regency recorded 1,134,470 domestic tourist trips to Banyumas during January–February 2026. The data, released on April 1, 2026, provides context for the high level of travel activity toward Purwokerto and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the economy of Surakarta City grew by 5.63 percent in 2025, with the information and communication sector recording the highest increase at 11.29 percent. This data was released by BPS Surakarta City on March 4, 2026.

According to Anne, the diversity of economic characteristics along the route makes Joglosemarkerto suitable for various purposes. Passenger journeys are closely linked to activities in markets and trade centers, industrial areas, campuses, hospitals, offices, hotels, culinary centers, and tourist destinations.

“When various centers of activity can be reached within one travel pattern, people have more flexibility in planning their journeys. Good intercity connectivity also helps connect passengers with products, services, education, jobs, and destinations available in each region,” said Anne.

The strong performance of Joglosemarkerto aligns with the overall growth in commercial long-distance train usage. During the first semester of 2026, KAI’s commercial long-distance train services served 19,230,100 passengers, an increase of 8.8 percent compared to 17,670,625 passengers in the first semester of 2025.

Top 10 Commercial Trains with the Highest Passenger Volume in the First Semester of 2026:

1. Train No. 187 Joglosemarkerto (Solo Balapan–Semarang Tawang–Tegal–Purwokerto–Solo Balapan–Semarang Tawang): 268,545 passengers
2. Train No. 193 Joglosemarkerto (Solo Balapan–Purwokerto–Tegal–Semarang Tawang–Solo Balapan): 253,411 passengers
3. Train No. 251 Jayakarta (Surabaya Gubeng–Pasarsenen): 192,030 passengers
4. Train No. 252 Jayakarta (Pasarsenen–Surabaya Gubeng): 187,941 passengers
5. Train No. 254 Kertajaya (Pasarsenen–Surabaya Pasar Turi): 179,756 passengers
6. Train No. 253 Kertajaya (Surabaya Pasar Turi–Pasarsenen): 177,718 passengers
7. Train No. 248 Logawa (Purwokerto–Surabaya Gubeng–Ketapang): 173,288 passengers
8. Train No. 264 Ambarawa Ekspres (Semarang Poncol–Surabaya Pasar Turi): 169,592 passengers
9. Train No. 153 Ranggajati (Jember–Surabaya Gubeng–Cirebon): 166,446 passengers
10. Train No. 154 Ranggajati (Cirebon–Surabaya Gubeng–Jember): 165,862 passengers
     

The strong performance of Joglosemarkerto demonstrates that intercity travel demand is also formed among regional cities with complementary functions. Educational cities, trade centers, industrial areas, government hubs, and tourist destinations can be connected within a single travel network without all flows relying on Jakarta or Surabaya.

“Joglosemarkerto shows that services designed with a clear understanding of intercity relationships can create a strong travel market. Passenger boarding and alighting patterns at each segment provide important insights for optimizing capacity, schedules, and stop selections to better meet regional needs,” Anne concluded.

VP Corporate Communication KAI