Reviewing Tugu Station, GKR Mangkubumi Wants Train Access Extended to Bantul
The Head of the Punakawan Main District, GKR Mangkubumi, accompanied the British Ambassador to Indonesia, Dominic Jermey, in inspecting Yogyakarta Station or Tugu Jogja Station today. Following the inspection, GKR Mangkubumi raised the issue of extending rail access to Bantul.
The eldest daughter of the Sultan of Keraton Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X conveyed that the discussions between Ambassador Jermey, the DIY Regional Government, and PT KAI during the inspection centred on organising the main area, particularly for transportation.
“Then there is also a joint study on heritage areas so that these heritage areas are not damaged or lost. We are also safeguarding not only transportation but also the environment and culture, and so on,” explained Gusti Mangkubumi at Tugu Station on Wednesday (8/4/2026).
The heritage area in this context, Tugu Jogja Station, said Gusti Mangkubumi, is a concern for the British Ambassador due to its quite busy activities. Therefore, it is hoped that organisation and development can accommodate the large number of passengers.
“We just had initial talks because they are very concerned about the development of the railway. Because in Jogja, it is number three (the busiest station). We want to work together because there are so many passengers, but the station is still quite small and crowded,” she explained.
To facilitate the development of rail services, Gusti Mangkubumi emphasised that the Yogyakarta Palace is willing to facilitate by permitting the use of Sultanate land if necessary.
Gusti Mangkubumi even hopes that rail services can accommodate passengers up to the Bantul area.
“Yes, certainly (facilitating the use of Sultanate land for rail services),” clarified Gusti Mangkubumi.
“So how can we all together develop the station and the railway itself to benefit the community. If possible, the trains can reach Bantul,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of DIY, Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, added that rail services to Bantul could potentially be realised, but not by reactivating the old tracks.
“Possibly with the note that it is not reactivation of the tracks. Because it is no longer possible to (reactivate them),” explained Made.
Made said that the expansion of rail lines has long been advocated. Not only to Bantul or the south, but also to the west, east, and north. However, from studies that have been conducted and dialogues with experts, it is not possible to reactivate the old tracks.
“It’s just that we already have a study—I forget what year—from the Directorate General of Railways on whether reactivation is possible, and it turns out it is not. Because the old tracks are already covered by buildings,” she stated.
“If it is indeed to be facilitated with trains, rail mode, it would be a rail mode on asphalt. So using signals, but that is possible because we don’t have to build new tracks for it or activate the old ones,” Made concluded.