Priangan Tells Its Story Through the Train Window
Jakarta (ANTARA) – One of the pleasures of travelling by train often comes unexpectedly. As the train leaves the urban area, the view gradually changes to rice fields, hills, rivers and settlements at the foot of mountains. For those looking for a different weekend experience, a journey through Priangan in West Java has a story of its own.
These landscapes can be enjoyed on several PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) services that cross West Java. From January to September 2026, the Cikuray, Papandayan and Pangandaran services carried a combined 1,117,029 passengers, a 6.92 per cent increase on the 1,044,689 passengers recorded in the same period in 2025.
According to KAI data, passenger numbers on the three services developed as follows:
The Cikuray service, Garut–Pasarsenen (return): 478,266 passengers, up 4.92 per cent from 455,823 in 2025.
The Papandayan service, Garut–Gambir (return): 340,338 passengers, up 12.91 per cent from 301,432.
The Pangandaran service, Banjar–Gambir (return): 298,425 passengers, up 3.82 per cent from 287,434.
KAI Vice-President of Corporate Communications Anne Purba said the Priangan region offers a distinctive travel experience. The shift in scenery from urban areas to hills and farmland gives each stretch of a rail journey a different atmosphere.
“There is a simple experience that often makes a train journey memorable. When passengers see rice fields stretching out, hills in the distance or villages along the way, they can enjoy another side of an area they may never have visited before. The journey itself can be an enjoyable part of the weekend,” Anne said.
On the route to Garut, passengers can enjoy the Priangan landscape, with mountain backdrops and farmland. After arriving, they can continue to attractions including the Cipanas area, Situ Bagendit and Mount Papandayan. For nature enthusiasts, the region offers a range of experiences, from mountain air to the richness of Sundanese cuisine.
A different character marks the Pangandaran service, which passes through Bandung, Tasikmalaya and Banjar. Along the route, urban surroundings give way to farmland and hills. From Banjar, travellers can continue by road to the Pangandaran tourism area, including its beaches and Pananjung Nature Reserve, arranging their onward travel according to their schedule and transport options.
Anne said the growth in passenger numbers on the three services reflects the variety of people’s travel needs, including work, education, family visits and tourism. For travel enthusiasts, the natural scenery along the route is an added attraction that can be enjoyed before reaching the destination station.
“Sometimes the most memorable part of a journey happens before you reach your destination. The view from the window, the city gradually giving way to something else, or the natural beauty along the route can all become memories in their own right. Indonesia has so many stories along its railway lines, and we want people to continue having the opportunity to enjoy them through safe and comfortable train travel,” Anne concluded.