KAI Dispatches Free Homecoming Passengers from Pasar Senen Station
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), or KAI, has again dispatched participants in the Free Homecoming Programme during the 2026 Lebaran Transport Operation from Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
A total of 480 participants were dispatched using the KA Tawang Jaya Premium train on the Pasar Senen–Semarang Tawang route. The departure ceremony was conducted by KAI Daop 1 Jakarta Executive Vice President Wahyu Cahyono.
The Free Homecoming Programme is a result of collaboration between KAI, the Ministry of Transport (Kemenhub), and several state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and private sector bodies.
This initiative aims to assist the public in returning to their hometowns using safer and more comfortable mass transportation modes.
Franoto Wibowo, KAI Daop 1 Jakarta’s Public Relations Manager, stated that the programme is also part of efforts to promote a transition from private vehicles, particularly motorcycles, to public transport.
“The Free Homecoming Programme is expected to help the public return to their hometowns using safe, comfortable, and timely transportation. Additionally, it can reduce the risk of traffic accidents that often occur on long-distance journeys using private vehicles,” Franoto stated in a press release received by Kompas.com on Tuesday.
The free homecoming programme has been conducted since 2023 and has become a routine agenda during the Lebaran period. Beyond assisting the public, the programme has contributed to reducing vehicle congestion on major homecoming routes, such as the North Coast route and southern Java route.
Amid the implementation of the programme, railway passenger mobility for the 2026 homecoming movement in the Daop 1 Jakarta region continues to increase.
On Tuesday, a total of 54,216 departing passengers and 22,574 arriving passengers were recorded at various stations in the Daop 1 Jakarta region.
Pasar Senen Station became the largest departure point with 24,412 passengers, followed by Gambir Station with 17,657 passengers and Bekasi Station with 4,659 passengers.
Cumulatively, since the beginning of the 2026 Lebaran Transport Operation from Wednesday, 11 March 2026 to Tuesday, 17 March 2026, the number of departing passengers from the Daop 1 Jakarta region reached 346,845 people, whilst the number of arriving passengers was recorded at 163,582 people.
For the entire Lebaran Transport period, which runs until Wednesday, 1 April 2026, KAI Daop 1 Jakarta has provided 1,083,623 long-distance train seats. By mid-period, 732,064 tickets had been sold with an occupancy rate of approximately 68 per cent.
Several dates approached full capacity, including 14 March with 51,128 tickets sold, 15 March with 52,008 tickets, 16 March with 52,819 tickets, and 17 March with 51,225 tickets.
Nevertheless, KAI states that seat availability remains relatively secure. For departures from 21 March through 1 April, an average of approximately 30,000 seats are available per day.