Already Available for Booking, KAI Provides Additional Train Tickets

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI has reopened bookings for additional Eid train tickets starting Sunday (23/2/2025) at 00:00 WIB. The number of trips and tickets available during the 2025 Eid period is approximately 6 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

During the 2025 Eid holiday period which lasted 22 days from March 21 to April 11, 2025, KAI operated 9,572 train trips. In detail, 8,492 trips were regular trains, while 1,080 other trips were additional trains.

"KAI opens additional Eid train ticket reservations starting Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 00.00 WIB. For people who have not received homecoming tickets on favorite dates, they can take advantage of this additional train," said Vice President of Public Relations of KAI Anne Purba in a written statement in Jakarta, Saturday (22/2/2025).

The trains added capacity of up to 538,280 seats, so that the total capacity available during the Lebaran period reached 4.57 million seats. That number increased 6 percent compared to last year's Lebaran period. Additional trains are available, both long-distance and local with commercial class.

"During the 2025 Eid transportation period, the number of trains operating will be 9,572 trains. This figure is an 8 percent increase compared to the 2024 Eid transportation period which operated 8,836 train trips," said Anne.

Long-distance train ticket reservations can be made starting 45 days before departure or D-45. Local train tickets can be purchased starting D-30, while a number of other trains can only be booked D-7 before departure.

"KAI is increasing the seating capacity to provide more travel options and accommodate the high demand from customers who will be going home or on vacation during Eid," said Anne.

Based on the latest data as of Friday (21/2/2025), the Airlangga train from Pasar Senen Station to Surabaya Pasar Turi (round trip/pp) is the public's favorite train. The number reached 47,419 train tickets for the departure period of March 21, 2025 or D-10 of Eid to April 7, 2025 or D+6 of Eid.

In addition to the Airlangga train, the most popular Lebaran transportation is the Bengawan train on the Pasar Senen-Purwosari (round trip) route. There are also trains with the final destination of East Java, namely the Kahuripan train on the Kiaracondong-Blitar (round trip) route and the Sritanjung train on the Lempuyangan-Ketapang (round trip) route.

PT KAI, Anne continued, has provided a connecting train feature. This facility allows customers to their final destination by connecting several connecting train routes.

To date, the highest booking occurred on March 29, 2025 or D-2 of Eid with 78,449 tickets sold. This number is predicted to continue to increase because it coincides with the Nyepi Day commemoration.

Previously, the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) proposed the implementation of a work from anywhere (WFA) scheme for state civil servants. This is because the Eid al-Fitr celebration which falls on March 31, 2025, is only two days before Nyepi Day on March 29, 2025.

"Starting from this, we propose WFA starting March 24, 2025. Our assumption is, if implemented like that, travelers will travel from March 21 evening. So we have time to untangle (the movement) of travelers during Lebaran," said Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi.

Reflecting on the implementation of Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 transportation, some people choose not to travel. Because, they choose to travel during Eid. However, his party is still calculating the potential for community movement during the upcoming long holiday.

Another consideration, the transition season is expected to continue during Lebaran. Unpredictable weather will affect movement at the Port. High waves will pose a risk to ship mobility.

"So, the consideration is not only because of the traffic jam. Things beyond our control are what we try to anticipate. If the weather is not good, we have time to untangle the homecoming travelers," said Duddy.

Every year, the Ministry of Transportation has always provided free motorcycle homecoming since 2014. However, its capacity does not reduce the quantity of motorcycle homecoming travelers. The government needs to increase the capacity of free train transportation and buses to accommodate these travelers.

According to data from the Ministry of Transportation, the total capacity for free motorcycle homecoming will reach 17,880 units in 2024. This figure is divided into 12,180 train quotas, 4,800 sea transportation quotas, and 900 land transportation quotas.

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. However, some Indonesian people still use this mode as one of their main transportation for traveling.

In 2024, motorcyclists during the Lebaran homecoming will reach 31.12 million people. That number is in fourth place. This is because people tend to use trains and intercity buses.

That means the free motorcycle homecoming program does not reach 1 percent of the total motorcycle travelers. The available quota is not significant in reducing the number of motorcycle travelers. However, the quota for travelers in Java should ideally be more allocated to travelers on other islands. This is because access to public transportation is relatively easier in Java compared to other regions.

"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.

Such conditions have not yet occurred in various other provinces outside Java Island. In Lampung Province, for instance, public transportation is still minimally available to take people to their final destinations.

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.