Cabinet Secretary inspects people's train service; fares cut, facilities improved

“I have been invited to inspect all railway facilities. In accordance with the President’s direction, he is focused on improving the railway sector. This is what we want to check,” said Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya during his inspection of the people’s train service at Senen Station in Jakarta on Tuesday, as he carried out President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to prioritise the overhaul of Indonesia’s national railway sector ahead of the 2026 Eid exodus.

During the inspection, Teddy highlighted improvements in service quality for the people’s train, both in terms of fares and facilities. He noted that ticket prices for the Jakarta-Yogyakarta route have decreased from the previous range of 225,000 to 250,000 rupiah to approximately 135,000 to 175,000 rupiah.

Beyond affordability, the facilities offered have also improved significantly. Teddy mentioned that air conditioning operates optimally, toilet conditions are cleaner, and seat designs are more comfortable. “So the price is lower and the facilities are improved. Earlier, I could see the air conditioning was working, the toilets were good, and the seats weren’t facing each other. It’s comfortable for a six-hour journey to Yogyakarta,” he said.

He added that the people’s train programme will continue to be developed in phases, including improvements to carriage quality and expansion of services to various regions outside Java.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) President Director Boddy Rasyidin stated that the people’s train is designed to provide comfort equivalent to a higher class whilst maintaining affordable pricing. “The comfort level is essentially equivalent to executive class, but at a more affordable price. Because a train is a mass transportation system, which means the cost must also be affordable,” Rasyidin said.

KAI has currently prepared five renovated people’s train sets. Each set contains 93 seats, and on the latest departure, four sets were operated with a total capacity of 372 passengers. Rasyidin noted that the occupancy rate has even exceeded 100 per cent, demonstrating strong public interest in the service.