Behind the Discourse on KRL Fare Increases and the Emergence of Priority Trains

JAKARTA — PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) is currently considering various measures to reduce the subsidy burden on electric commuter rail (KRL) fares without placing additional strain on passengers.

KCI Chief Executive Mochamad Purnomosidi stated that the plan for fare increases is still under thorough examination.

“The intention is to see how we can reduce subsidies. We feel for the government, really. So we’re exploring various solutions, including priority trains,” Purnomo said at KCI Hall, Juanda, Central Jakarta, on Monday (9 March 2026).

Nevertheless, decisions on fare increases will not be made hastily because they require approval from the Ministry of Transport.

“We cannot decide this ourselves. The approval must come from the ministry because these are subsidised trains,” he explained.

In addition to raising fares, KCI is also considering operating priority KRL services as an alternative way to reduce subsidies.

“We are still examining it. But there is clearly an intention to reduce subsidies, one of which would be through priority trains,” said Purnomo.

“So it would only stop at busy locations. That is the plan we are working on. The intention is to reduce subsidies,” he added.

Although priority KRL and fare increases are the main options being considered, Purnomo emphasised that KCI is still open to other solutions for reducing the subsidy burden.

“It could be that priority trains don’t go ahead, but we raise fares on economy KRL instead. And there are still other alternatives,” he said.