KAI Palembang Launches Premium Economy Trains on Rajabasa Route

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Regional Division III Palembang has commenced operating premium economy class carriages on the KA Rajabasa service for the Kertapati-Tanjungkarang round-trip route, as part of efforts to improve service quality for the public. Manager of Public Relations for KAI Divre III Palembang, Aida Suryanti, stated on Saturday that the operation of the premium economy train represents KAI’s commitment to providing a more comfortable, safe, and enjoyable journey at an affordable fare. “The operation of the premium economy carriage on KA Rajabasa is a form of KAI’s commitment to continuously improving service quality for customers. The public can now enjoy a journey with more modern and comfortable facilities, yet still at a very affordable fare,” she said. She explained that the KA Rajabasa train set, which previously used economy class carriages with a 3-2 seating configuration facing each other, has now been replaced with premium economy carriages featuring a 2-2 seating configuration that does not face each other, providing more legroom for passengers. Additionally, the carriage is equipped with ergonomic seats with a reclining feature, central air conditioning, and power sockets at every seat to support passengers’ needs during the journey. Although the seating capacity has been reduced from 106 seats to 80 seats per carriage, the fare for the KA Rajabasa journey on the Kertapati-Tanjungkarang route remains unchanged at Rp32,000. “We want the public to experience a higher quality journey. With more spacious seating, more complete facilities, and an increasingly comfortable travel atmosphere, we hope KA Rajabasa becomes the public’s top choice for travelling in the South Sumatra to Lampung region,” she explained. On the first day of operating the premium economy train set, Saturday, a total of 596 passengers were recorded departing from Kertapati Station on KA Rajabasa. Meanwhile, the total number of passengers on the KA Rajabasa journey for the Kertapati-Tanjungkarang route reached 1,096 people. The high number of passengers is influenced by the travel characteristics of KA Rajabasa, which serves partial journeys. During a single trip, passengers can board and alight at various stations, allowing the occupancy rate to exceed the number of seats available at any one time. During the first half of 2026, KA Rajabasa served 154,483 passengers, an increase of approximately 35 per cent compared to the same period in 2025, which recorded 114,320 passengers. The increase in passenger numbers was also supported by the expansion of the KA Rajabasa train set from five carriages in 2025 to eight carriages in 2026, enabling it to accommodate the growing mobility needs of the community. KAI Divre III Palembang encourages the public to book tickets through official KAI channels, such as the Access by KAI application, the official KAI website, or authorised sales partners, to obtain convenience, security, and certainty of travel tickets.