Complaints of Crowding and Long Waits: Hopes for the Green Line KRL
Regular users of the KRL Commuter Line on the Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung route are also complaining that the trains operating on that line are still using second-hand Japanese KRLs that have been in operation in the Jabodetabek area for around 10 years and still use a 10-carriage formation or SF10.
One of them, Firhan, a regular passenger on the Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung KRL for the Rawa Buntu-Kebayoran journey, complained about the condition of the KRL consisting of only 10 carriages, which means many other regular users cannot board the train. From Rawa Buntu Station, the KRL is already very crowded and starting to be difficult to enter.
“I board from Rawa Buntu, the KRL at 08:00 WIB towards Tanah Abang, getting off at Kebayoran; when it arrives at Rawa Buntu, the KRL is already full, and with the addition from Rawa Buntu, it’s starting to get crowded,” said Firhan to CNBC Indonesia on Thursday afternoon inside a Green Line KRL carriage (26/3/2026).
After Rawa Buntu, the passengers become even more crowded because at the subsequent stations, there are already many passengers waiting to board. At Sudimara Station, even many passengers cannot board or get carried because the KRL is already very crowded.
“When it reaches Sudimara, you can’t enter anymore, especially at the next stations like Jurangmangu and Pondok Ranji,” he continued.
He hopes the KRL capacity can be increased by operating 12-carriage KRLs as soon as possible.
“Yes, it’s about time this route is served by 12-carriage KRLs; if it stays at 10, passengers after Rawa Buntu won’t be able to board,” he explained.
In agreement with Firhan, Okto, a regular passenger on the Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung KRL who boards from Jurangmangu Station, stated that the conditions on that KRL route are no longer feasible.
“Mercy, if it’s in the morning on weekdays from Jurangmangu to Tanah Abang, 2 to 3 KRLs pass by before you can board, and even then it’s still crowded inside. Experience boarding the KRL between 07:00-08:00 WIB,” said Okto.
He also hopes the KRL capacity can be increased by operating SF12 KRLs on that route. In addition, he hopes the infrastructure can be further improved, such as signalling, increasing electrical power, and changing level crossings to non-level ones like flyovers or underpasses.
“The hope is to upgrade the signalling so the headway can be tighter like on the Bogor line, then increase the electrical power, followed by operating SF12 KRLs, and finally build non-level crossings (flyover/underpass) at crossings with high vehicle volumes,” he added.
Meanwhile, Noval, another regular user who boards from Sudimara Station, admitted that the queue of passengers wanting to board the KRL can reach 4-5 lines during rush hours around 07:00 to 08:00 WIB. This indicates that passengers can only board on the third subsequent KRL and they have to wait more than 15 minutes.
“Indeed, on a daily basis, especially those boarding from Sudimara, you’re squeezed and squeezing to get in. If you can’t board, the queue on the platform can reach 4-5 lines; you can imagine how it is,” said Noval.
Like other regular Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung KRL passengers, he hopes the train capacity can be increased further by operating SF12 KRLs.
“Yes, increase the electrical capacity so SF12 KRLs can operate, also replace the signalling with open block, so the following KRL doesn’t have to wait far behind the one in front,” he explained.