KAI Projects Peak Homecoming Traffic on D-3 of Eid

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI predicts the peak of the train homecoming flow on D-3 or March 28 and the peak of the train return flow on D+5 or April 5. At the same time, security must be tightened because a number of honorary track guards have been laid off, due to budget cuts.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI is still providing train tickets for the public. Although still available, tickets for certain destinations and dates around Eid al-Fitr have been sold out.

KAI President Director Didiek Hartantyo said, KAI estimates the peak of the homecoming flow of people will occur three days before or D-3 of Eid, precisely on Friday (3/28/2025). His party projects that 235,870 passengers will travel on that day.

On the other hand, the peak return flow is estimated to occur five days after the holiday or D+5 of Eid, precisely Sunday (6/4/2025). At that time, at least 267,613 passengers are expected to return to their respective places of origin.

The total volume of homecoming and return traffic throughout the Eid period starting from D-10 to D+10 of Eid is projected to reach 4.6 million people.

The total volume of homecoming and return traffic throughout the Lebaran period starting from D-10 to D+10 Lebaran is projected to reach 4.6 million people. The figure is up 105 percent compared to last year in the same period.

"This is a prediction, no one can be sure, but actually from the ticket purchases it can be seen. D-2 is March 28, 2025, the tickets are already sold out. Well, the return flow will be around D+5, Sunday," said Didiek in a press conference for the preparation of Eid al-Fitr 2025 at the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Jakarta, Tuesday (2/25/2025).

During the 2025 Eid period, KAI provided 4.55 million tickets, both long-distance and local. Of that number, only 28 percent have been sold or 1.28 million tickets as of Tuesday at 07.00 WIB. The data does not include monitoring of Makassar-Parepare train sales in South Sulawesi.

KAI deployed 54 additional trains during this Eid. The majority of the additions are 40 long-distance commercial trains. Subsidized long-distance trains (PSO), local commercial trains, and tourist trains or Java Priority are supported by two fleets of each type.

To accommodate the increasing number of passengers, KAI is increasing the number of trains, so that the availability of seats is also increasing. In 2024, it will reduce 8,924 trains, but increase by 8 percent to 9,656 trains in 2025.

Available seats are around 4.31 million in 2024, then increasing 6 percent to 4.59 million passengers a year later in the same period.

During the 2024/2025 Christmas and New Year holidays, KAI in collaboration with the Directorate General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) operates a direct train. The train serves the Gambir (Jakarta)-Semarang Tawang and Gambir-Yogyakarta routes.

When asked about the sustainability of this service, Didiek said that this type of train would not continue during the upcoming long holiday. This decision was taken based on several considerations. However, he was reluctant to elaborate on the reasons.

"So after the evaluation, during Christmas and New Year (last), we did direct train Jakarta-Semarang and Jakarta-Yogyakarta. So, in the evaluation for this Lebaran transportation, we did not implement it. It is not significant (operationally)," said Didiek.

At least 731 personnel will be deployed to ensure the smooth running of the 2025 Eid transportation. They consist of lane inspection officers, crossing road guards (PJL), and inner lane guards.

"Because of the current phenomenon, it turns out that there is a lot of efficiency (budget), sometimes the honorarium for crossing guards is stopped. Well, if there are no crossing guards, I say just close it. Because actually this is the responsibility of the road owner," said Didiek.

The majority of railway crossings, Didiek continued, are the responsibility of KAI. However, some crossings remain under the auspices of the regional government (pemda), province or district/city. This issue is a problem that has received special attention from KAI and the National Transportation Safety Committee.

Separately, the Executive Director of the Transportation Study Institute, Deddy Herlambang, said that honorary workers who were absorbed into state civil apparatus (ASN) had been regulated since the administration of President Joko Widodo. The hope is that honorary workers, including PJLs, will have ASN status in the future.

"Specifically for safety, in the context of PJL, there must be relaxation. The local government does not have a budget to recruit more because ASN is a master plan from the central government. This is an obstacle for (guarding) level crossings," he said.

Deddy also recommended that illegal level crossings be closed as per the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 94 of 2018 concerning Improving Level Crossing Safety between Railway Tracks and Roads. Local governments are required to be responsible for guarding level crossings according to the status of their respective roads, both provincial and district/city.

Another solution, the local government needs to work together with the lowest levels of society, including the local sub-district. Sub-district officers can coordinate with the community to contribute to making fences and independent crossing barriers. The funds collected can also be paid to volunteers who take care of the crossing gates.

"KAI, if there is an additional train travel chart (Gapeka), there is indeed a risk at the level crossing. The more Gapeka there is, the crossing will automatically open and close frequently, there must be people who want to work there. If it cannot be managed, it is better to close it than to increase the number of victims," said Deddy.

The free motorcycle homecoming program or motis will also be provided by KAI up to eight trains. In detail, the trains will be divided into two trains, the northern motis and the central motis trains. The northern motis train will be provided with two fleets for the Kampung Bandan (Jakarta)-Semarang Tawang (Central Java) route. The central motis train will be served by six fleets from Kampung Bandan (Jakarta)-Lempuyangan (Yogyakarta).

"KAI is providing 400 free tickets at Tawang Jaya Premium for departure on March 26, 2025. Registration is open to the public, of course there are terms and conditions that must be followed," said Didiek.

When asked for more details regarding the free homecoming program, Didiek said that further information will be announced at the next press conference. This is because coordination with other free homecoming organizers, including the Ministry of SOEs, is still ongoing.

The state-owned company also provides train tickets at promotional prices for the remaining Lebaran transportation period. The tickets will be sold on March 18-19, 2025 with the availability of 38,000 seats or adjusted to the number of seats available.

Flash sales with very affordable rates can also be ordered through the Access by KAI application. This promotion will be held on March 18, 2025 at 12.00 WIB with a total of 2,000 seats or adjusted to availability.

"So it's like a lottery. So those who are ready, just go straight in (to the platform). The first (stage) is 2,000 tickets, but if later needed, we will add more," said Didiek.

Responding to the motis program, Deputy Chairman of Empowerment and Regional Development of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Center Djoko Setijowarno said that motorcycles are not designed for long-distance travel. As a result, motis is needed to reduce the number of motorcycles on the road.

However, the reach of the free motorcycle homecoming program did not reach 1 percent of the total motorcycle homecoming travelers in 2024. The existing quota did not significantly reduce the number of motorcycle homecoming travelers. However, the quota for travelers in Java should be allocated more for travelers on other islands. This is because public transportation access is relatively easy in Java, compared to other areas.

"On average, every household already owns a motorcycle, and the distance from the station or bus terminal to the destination is not too far; there are still plenty of additional transportation modes available on the island of Java," said Djoko.

He recommended that the capacity of free homecoming using buses and trains be increased. This is also an effort to reduce the number of children brought by parents using motorbikes. Moreover, motorbikes are the most vulnerable vehicles for health.

"Bringing children on motorcycles is very prone to accidents and children's health. Until now, the government has not dared to officially prohibit children from going home on motorcycles," said Djoko.