Prabowo Rides Indonesian-Made 'Orient Express' Train to Batang

President Prabowo Subianto boarded the Nusantara Explore train from Semarang Tawang Station to Batang on Thursday. Prior to his departure, he officiated the first phase of the station’s revitalisation, a project by PT KAI to restore the façade of the 1914 heritage building to its original design by Dutch architects Sloth-Blaauwboer. “Thank you to Kereta Api Indonesia. Today I will try the new train launched by KAI to support tourism, named Nusantara Explore. I hope Kereta Api Indonesia continues to develop rapidly, widely, and greatly,” Prabowo said. The President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. The Nusantara Explorer is a luxury sleeper train developed by PT KAI, featuring private cabins, a Grand Restaurant, a lounge, and operational support carriages. All development and modification work was centred at the Surabaya Gubeng depot. The train offers three cabin classes—Signature, Advance, and Compact—each with varying levels of space and privacy. The Grand Restaurant provides personalised dining, while the lounge includes seating, a bar, entertainment facilities, a piano, and panoramic windows. The interior design blends neoclassical proportions with warm materials, soft lighting, and Indonesian cultural motifs such as wayang kulit, Batik Lasem, Sekar Jagad, and Balinese patterns.