Long-Distance Train Passengers Increase by 68% During Eid al-Adha Holiday; These Are the 10 Busiest Routes

Indonesia's State-Owned Railway Company (PT Kereta Api Indonesia or KAI) reported a surge in long-distance train passengers during the extended Idul Adha holiday from June 27 to July 2, 2023.

During this period, the volume of long-distance train passengers reached 943,650, averaging 157,275 passengers per day.

This figure represents a 68% increase compared to the period of June 6-11, 2023, which saw 563,142 long-distance train passengers, or 93,857 passengers per day.

KAI's VP of Public Relations, Joni Martinus, stated that the peak departure period occurred on June 27, 2023, with a total of 159,888 passengers.

"Meanwhile, the peak return period occurred on Sunday, July 2nd, with 181,737 passengers," Joni Martinus explained through KAI's official website on Monday, March 7, 2023.

To accommodate the increased passenger volume during the Idul Adha long holiday, KAI added 18 long-distance train services, resulting in a total of 1,340 trains available to serve the public during the holiday period.

The Arga Parahyangan train, operating the Gambir-Bandung round trip route, was the most popular long-distance train, transporting 110,784 passengers.

The Serayu train, operating the Pasar Senen-Purwokerto round trip route, followed in second place with 69,738 long-distance passengers.

This was followed by the Airlangga train, operating the Pasar Senen-Surabaya Pasarturi round trip route, with a total of 68,624 passengers.

In addition to the long holiday, the surge in long-distance train passengers was also influenced by a KAI promotion offering a 25% discount for departures between June 25 and July 9, 2023.

A total of 27,215 promotional tickets were sold, exceeding the 18,676 tickets initially available by 46%. Due to high public demand, KAI increased the quota of promotional tickets.

Here are the top 10 long-distance trains with the highest passenger volume during the 2023 Idul Adha long holiday:

1. Argo Parahyangan (Gambir-Bandung round trip) = 110,784 passengers
2. Serayu (Pasar Senen-Purwokerto round trip) = 69,738 passengers
3. Airlangga (Pasar Senen-Surabaya Pasarturi round trip) = 68,624 passengers
4. Sancaka (Yogyakarta-Surabaya Gubeng round trip) = 65,911 passengers
5. Putri Deli (Medan-Tanjungbalai round trip) = 63,621 passengers
6. Joglosemarkerto (Central Java circular route) = 55,686 passengers
7. Kaligung (Semarang Poncol-Cirebon Prujakan round trip) = 52,163 passengers
8. Sri Tanjung (Lempuyangan-Ketapang round trip) = 51,245 passengers
9. Kahuripan (Kiaracondong-Blitar round trip) = 50,191 passengers
10. Ambarawa Express (Semarang Poncol-Surabaya Pasarturi round trip) = 50,091 passengers