KAI Chief Executive Claims People's Economy Train Comfort Rivals Executive Class at Affordable Prices

JAKARTA — The Chief Executive of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Bobby Rasyidin, has stated that the comfort of the Kereta Ekonomi Kerakyatan (People’s Economy Train), launched on 1 March 2026, is comparable to executive-class trains.

He regards the train’s comfort level as nearly equivalent to executive-class trains. “The comfort rivals executive class, really, but at more affordable prices, more accessible costs. Because trains are mass transportation, meaning the cost must also be affordable,” said Bobby at Pasar Senen Station in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (17 March 2026).

He explained that each carriage of the People’s Economy Train has a capacity of 93 passenger seats.

On Tuesday afternoon, Bobby, alongside Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, saw off the departure of four carriages of the People’s Economy Train coupled with executive-class trains from Pasar Senen Station bound for Lempuyangan Station in Yogyakarta.

“We sent off four (carriages) today, so the total is 372 seats. Alhamdulillah, there were 382 passengers. So arrivals and departures totalled 382, so around 104 per cent, 102 per cent,” explained Bobby.

PT KAI officially launched the People’s Economy Train on 1 March 2026.

This train service operates initially on the Pasar Senen-Lempuyangan route with code KA 7040 and was deployed for the 2026 Lebaran holiday period.

The People’s Economy Train fare is priced at Rp 175,000 following a 30 per cent discount, departing Pasar Senen Station at 15:25 Western Indonesia Time, with ticket sales available from 11 March to 1 April 2026.