Farmer and Trader Trains Serve 35,843 Customers, Expanding Community Economic Access
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) continues to provide services tailored to community needs through the ‘Farmer and Trader Trains’ operating on the Rangkasbitung–Merak line and the Cikuray train route between Garut and Pasar Senen.
In total, the service has been utilised by 35,843 customers. This figure includes 35,661 passengers on the Rangkasbitung–Merak line from 1 December 202_ to 29 July 202_ [Note: original text contains future dates], and 182 passengers on the Cikuray train from 11 June to 26 July 202_. Specifically, between 1 January and 29 July 202_, the Rangkasbitung–Merak service catered to 31,546 customers.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication, Anne Purba, stated that the service assists the community in transporting agricultural produce, food supplies, home-based products, and various goods to markets and economic hubs. “Every journey carries a story of family enterprise and livelihood. There are garden harvests to be sold, goods to be marketed, and the hope that businesses can continue to thrive,” said Anne.
The Rangkasbitung–Merak service is available at a fare of Rp3,000 per trip, while the long-distance Cikuray service (Garut–Pasar Senen) is priced at Rp45,000. The affordability of these fares is supported by the Government through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme. This policy ensures that the public can access safe, scheduled transportation that aligns with their economic capabilities.
KAI expressed appreciation for the Government’s attention to community mobility needs, particularly for those engaged in daily economic activities. Through the PSO, public transport serves as a vital policy tool connecting people to markets, workplaces, educational centres, and livelihoods.
Anne noted that the government’s support via PSO is significant, as affordable tariffs help farmers, traders, workers, students, and small entrepreneurs manage their activities with controlled travel costs. For farmers and traders, savings in transport costs can have a direct impact on their businesses, allowing funds to be redirected towards purchasing raw materials, increasing capital, or maintaining product quality.
On the Rangkasbitung–Merak line, the service connects residential areas, production centres, traditional markets, and economic hubs within the Banten region. Meanwhile, the provision of space for farmers and traders on the Cikuray train extends these benefits from Garut through West Java to Jakarta. The service also provides dedicated space for goods, ensuring a more orderly, safe, and comfortable journey for all passengers.
For those transporting agricultural products and food, the certainty of train schedules offers specific economic value. Planned departure and arrival times help customers estimate market arrival and maintain the quality of their commodities. Furthermore, using trains reduces the need for multiple vehicle transfers, helping to lower additional costs, reduce physical labour, and minimise the risk of commodity damage during transit.
Anne added that the benefits extend to the regions traversed by the trains, as passenger activity supports economic circulation around stations, including feeder transport, local stalls, and various community businesses. “The Farmer and Trader Trains demonstrate how Government policy and KAI’s services can complement each other in supporting the community economy. KAI will continue to maintain service quality to ensure these benefits remain widespread and relevant to customer needs,” Anne concluded.