Why is the Argo Bromo Anggrek Train Being Renamed to the Anggrek Train?

The Argo Bromo Anggrek train will soon be renamed to the Anggrek train starting from Saturday, 9 May 2026. This name change for the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek to KA Anggrek was announced via the official Instagram account @kai121_ on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. “Starting 9 May 2026, KA Argo Bromo Anggrek will appear with a new identity as KA Anggrek,” stated the caption of the post from KAI’s official Instagram account. The simplification of the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek name to KA Anggrek is described as a way to mature the heritage that has long been embedded in the journeys of Indonesian society. “That is where the meaning of Anggrek finds its form. A name that brings elegance, strength, and trust in every journey,” wrote KAI. The name change for KA Argo Bromo Anggrek does not affect tickets already purchased by passengers. All tickets can still be used on KA Anggrek according to the schedule and service class selected. However, the name change for KA Argo Bromo Anggrek raises significant questions. Why is the name of this legendary train being changed to something simpler? According to Kompas.com on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, the word “Argo” comes from ancient Javanese meaning mountain. The naming of Argo trains is also followed by the name of the mountain near the destination city, including KA Argo Bromo Anggrek. Through the Argo naming, KAI hopes that the public can continue to know the mountains in Indonesia. Interestingly, the name Argo is not given to the KA Malabar, which refers to a mountain in Bandung. Similarly, KA Krakatau and Ciremai are inspired by mountain names but do not include the word “Argo” in front because they are not executive-class trains.