Ahmad Luthfi Facilitates Hundreds of Migrants Returning to Homelands in Central Java
A train carried 648 participants in the free homecoming travel programme coordinated by the Central Java provincial government. Before seeing off the Joko Tingkir train, Luthfi first greeted migrants aboard the carriages. Luthfi also distributed souvenirs to free homecoming participants heading to various destinations in Central Java including Purwokerto, Kebumen, Purworejo, Klaten, Solo, Sragen, and other areas, as well as those travelling to the Yogyakarta region.
“Where are you going? Are you happy with this free homecoming trip?” Luthfi asked, according to a written statement on Tuesday (17 March 2026).
“How many times have you participated in free homecoming? Here are some souvenirs from Bank Jateng. I hope you arrive safely at your destination,” he added.
On this occasion, Luthfi explained that the free homecoming travel programme coordinated by the Central Java provincial government using train transport had several departures scheduled.
First, at 11.50 a.m. using the Joko Tingkir train bound for Solo Balapan Station with a total of 8 carriages. Second, using the Tawang Jaya train with its final destination at Semarang Tawang Station with a total of 8 carriages, which would depart at 6.00 p.m. Additionally, one extra carriage would depart at 12.30 p.m.
“This free homecoming travel via train is to accommodate those who could not secure free homecoming quotas using buses,” Luthfi said.
The free homecoming initiative was organised to facilitate informal workers from Central Java living in Greater Jakarta. The aim is to enable residents from Central Java to celebrate Eid at their home villages and set aside money for their families back home.
“Not only by train, but also 325 buses from Jakarta and 23 buses from Bandung have already been dispatched yesterday,” Luthfi said.
The hundreds of migrants came from various occupational backgrounds, ranging from private employees, online taxi drivers, traders, and students.
They expressed gratitude to Luthfi for facilitating free homecoming travel by train, and some even asked to take selfies with him.
“I’m very happy. Thank you very much, Sir,” the migrants responded in unison to Luthfi’s questions.
One migrant from Purworejo, Legiman, said he had participated in free homecoming travel by train several times. Last year he went alone, whilst this year he travelled with his sibling.
“Hopefully it will happen again next year. Thank you, Governor, this really helps,” Legiman said.
Another migrant, Rina Setyani and Nia Retno Setyawati, said this was their first time participating in free homecoming travel. The siblings from Purwokerto also invited their father to join the free homecoming travel using the train. Previously, they had registered for free homecoming travel by bus but the quotas were exhausted.
“I found out about this from Instagram. At first I tried to get bus tickets but didn’t succeed,” Rina said.
“Then I tried free homecoming travel by train, and alhamdulillah I got three tickets,” she added.
Rina also recounted that this homecoming trip had been well prepared. She, her sister and their father had been getting ready over recent days and tried to depart early for the station to avoid missing the train.