Subsidised Rail Services Carry 155.8 Million Passengers in Four Months
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Subsidised rail services, also known as Public Service Obligation (PSO), remain a vital part of public transportation in various regions.
Between January and April 2026, the total number of passengers using PSO rail services managed by PT Kereta Api Indonesia reached 155.8 million.
The government provides these fare subsidies through the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) under the Ministry of Transportation to maintain the affordability of rail-based public transport.
VP of Corporate Communication at KAI, Anne Purba, stated that PSO services have a significant social impact as they are used by people for various daily activities, from commuting to work and school to trading.
According to her, PSO services are one of the main pillars supporting public mobility by providing safe, efficient, and affordable mass transportation.
KAI recorded that the number of passengers using long-distance and local subsidised trains between January and April 2026 reached 6,221,378.
In addition, government subsidies are also provided for all Commuter Line and Jabodebek LRT services, as well as some airport rail services.
The services managed by KAI Commuter contributed the largest number of passengers, reaching 136,585,949 people during the first four months of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Jabodebek LRT served 10,667,038 passengers during the same period.
The subsidised services managed by KAI Bandara recorded 2,334,929 passengers, including users of the YIA Regular train to Yogyakarta International Airport and the Srilelawangsa train on the Medan-Kualanamu and Medan-Binjai routes.
Anne believes that the high number of users indicates that rail-based public transport is increasingly trusted by people to support their daily mobility.
“When safe and affordable services are accessible to the public, economic, educational, and social activities can continue smoothly,” she said.
She added that continued government support for PSO services is essential so that the benefits of connectivity and affordable public transportation can continue to be felt by the wider community.