Kereta Api Indonesia
PT Kereta Api Indonesia is the main state-owned railway operator of Indonesia. KAI provides intercity passenger services directly, while its subsidiaries provide commuter rail services, airport link services, freight rail services, as well as infrastructure maintenance. KAI also operates in other sectors, such as properties management and tourism. KAI also has indirect control of Whoosh through its ownership of a majority of shares in, another state-owned enterprise of Indonesia.
KAI operates on the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi, with a total of of tracks. Also holds track-assets and planned services on Madura Island. In 2024, KAI carried 505 million passengers and 73.5 million tonnes of cargo, earning Rp 36.1 trillion in revenue.
History
Kereta Api Indonesia originates from a long line of successive state railway companies dating from the Dutch colonial days. On 27 August 1863, Indonesia's first railway company was named Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij. The colonial government of the Dutch East Indies granted concession to W. Poolman, Alex Frazer and E.H. Kol on 28 August 1862. Its initial route was. The line was inaugurated in Kemijen village, Semarang, by L.A.J.W. Baron Sloet van de Beele on 17 June 1864. The first lines, Batavia –Buitenzorg and Samarang–Vorstenlanden opened on 10 August 1867. They suffered big losses and bankruptcy. The colonial government assisted the company by forming the Staatsspoorwegen, a state-owned company on 6 April 1875. Their route stretched from Buitenzorg to Soerabaja. The private company Deli Spoorweg Maatschappij operated exclusively in North Sumatra, to transport rubber and tobacco around the Deli area.In 1939, the total operational trackage was .
Following Indonesian Independence|Indonesian independence] in 1945 and Dutch recognition of its sovereignty in 1949, the various railway systems were combined into the Djawatan Kereta Api Republik Indonesia in 1953. The company traces its origins to 28 September 1945, which is marked today as the official birthday of the rail network. The DKARI network received its first diesel locomotives in 1952. These diesel locomotives slowly dominated the railway lines, first in Java and then in Sumatra, for the next two decades. Non-state railway systems nationwide retained their formal existence until 1958, when all the railway lines were nationalised under DKARI, including the Deli in North Sumatra.
The network was finally corporatised with the foundation of its successor Perusahaan Negara Kereta Api on 28 September 1963, its 18th anniversary, as part of the official celebrations held for the 1963-67 Railways Centennial. These celebrations also saw a renewed investment in the railway network's fleet. On 28 September 1970, PNKA was rebranded as Perusahaan Jawatan Kereta Api, which saw widespread dieselisation of the network and the retirement of its remaining steam powered assets.
Much of the branch lines constructed in the colonial era were dismantled or abandoned in the 1980s.
On 1 August 1990, PJKA was renamed once more to Perusahaan Umum Kereta Api. Law No. 13 of 1992 stated that the government operates railways, delegates operations to an operating body and provides and maintains railway infrastructure. Private companies were allowed to co-operate in railway operation work.
On 1 June 1999, Perumka was converted into a joint-stock company, PT Kereta Api . In May 2010, the branding was amended to become PT Kereta Api Indonesia .
Electric locomotives were always a minority, and no new electric locomotives were acquired until the 1970s. However, electric multiple units have been imported since 1976 for the Jabotabek commuter urban transport, which was spun off from KAI in August 2008.
After upgrading the rail between Purwosari station and Wonogiri station and the bridges to R42 rail, the line between Sangkrah station, Solo and Wonogiri switched to being served by heavy electric diesel locomotives.
On 3 May 2011, the company conducted a cargo train trial from Cikarang Dry Port to Surabaya. In December, a memorandum of understanding was signed between KAI and Bombardier Transportation. The project would have established final assembly of diesel-electric TRAXX Asia Locomotives in Surabaya, East Java for export and domestic use. The plant and project appear to have been abandoned as no TRAXX plant has been built in Surabaya.
In 2012, KAI and GE Transportation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on train services, in particular assistance with traction motor remanufacturing. In the same year, Indonesian Railways allocated Rp20 billion to restore and renovate 20 heritage sites and historical railways on Java and Sumatra.
of the Jakarta-Surabaya line were double tracked in May 2014, followed by the completion of a double tracking project on the south coast in 2015. On 8 June 2015, the Duri-Tangerang double track project was inaugurated for KA Commuter Jabodetabek, but it could also be used for airport trains. Construction began in early 2015 to connect Cikarang Dry Port and Tanjung Priok Port to ease traffic.
The first trackage project of the Trans-Sulawesi Railway from Makassar to Pare-pare, with a length of, was completed in 2017. The train began service in 2018 with wider trackage than in Java to accommodate more weight and speed.
Assets
Revaluation of assets was conducted by the Ministry of Transportation. The company owned Rp35 trillion in land assets and Rp22 trillion in other assets. The exact value was expected to be determined by the end of 2011 or 2012, based on an audit by the Ministry of Finance.Trackage
The company operates cape gauge and lines. The 1,067 mm gauge is the most common, used in Java and the majority of Sumatra, while the 1,435 mm gauge is used only in Aceh, the Trans-Sulawesi Railway, and Jabodebek LRT. The company previously operated gauge lines in Aceh and gauge lines for some tramway lines.The total trackage laid in Indonesia was, although not all lines were in operation at the same time. The system spanned as of 2025, with the Aceh system, most of the West Sumatra system and most former steam tram lines abandoned, but including new tracks built alongside old tracks.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in 2010 to build of railway around Bali, which was expected to be completed in 2015.
The – railway line is a part of the planned reactivation of the Semarang–Ambarawa line and is to be the only railway in Indonesia without road crossings. It was planned to include eight flyovers and underpasses to improve safety in congested roads.
Rolling stock
As of 2024, KAI operated:- 462 locomotive units;
- 1020 electric multiple units carriages;
- 90 diesel multiple units sets;
- 1,532 passenger coaches; and
- 7,690 freight cars
Locomotives
KAI's diesel-electric locomotives are mostly made in the United States or Canada, diesel hydraulic locomotives are mostly made in Germany, and electric units are mostly made in Japan. AIC assembles diesel-electric TRAXX Asia Locomotives in Surabaya, East Java, in cooperation with Bombardier Transportation.All locomotives of the KAI are diesel-powered. Most new locomotives use diesel-electric transmission, while shunters and older locomotives have hydraulic transmission. More than 400 locomotives are documented, but the number of operational locomotives is smaller.
Locomotives are required by regulation to use a combination of letters and numbers for designations. A letter or a combination of letters denotes the wheel arrangement, and a three-digit number indicates the class, starting from 0. A two-digit number represents the year of operations, and two- or three-digit after the year indicates the running number.
The steam locomotive classification was directly derived from the Japan Railways [locomotive numbering and classification|Japanese 1928 numbering system]. Tank locomotives were numbered from the 10s, while tender locomotives were numbered from the 50s. Letter combinations were used for Mallet locomotives.
Named passenger trains
KAI Limited runs six classes of coaches in its various named passenger trains in Java and Sumatra, namely the Luxury/Imperial, Executive, Business, Priority, Economy Premium and Economy classes.Alongside regular coaches, KAI operates a number of generator, baggage/parcels and dining cars which also compose these trainsets.
Exclusive carriages
The kereta wisata is a luxury class passenger car that can be rented and attached to a regular trainset for a specific journey. The main users of these exclusive carriages are government officials, corporate boards, extended families, and groups of artists or tourists. The rental fee is about for short trips such as Jakarta–Bandung or Jakarta–Cirebon and up to for long distance Jakarta–Surabaya trips. These carriages can accommodate up to 22 passengers, or 19 passengers for "Nusantara" tourist/observation cars with a large bedroom for two. Snacks, meals, and drinks are provided free of charge in these carriages. Since the 2020s, alongside these cars, KAI has debuted tourist versions of its long distance day trains for both local and international tourists. These trains have a capacity of 20 passengers on the "Imperial" class open coach/bar cars and "Retro" class lounge and dining cars, and 30 on the "Priority" class lounge/coach cars, but are powered by regular diesels as in the regular express trains. The first such train for tourists, the Java Priority, debuted in 2024 after more than half a century, becoming the first tourist-only service in the KAI network in Java since the 1960s.All these cars, together with the panoramic observation style cars, the 2018 design open sleeper/coach cars and the younger 16-seat compartment sleeper-chair cars all attached to regular long distance trainsets, are all operated by subsidiary firm KAI Wisata and maintained for KAI by Industri Kereta Api Limited.
Disability carriage
On 18 October 2014, KAI launched the Jayabaya train for disabled people traveling the Pasar Senen–Surabaya–Malang route and back. The train includes two accessible carriages, which feature disability-friendly toilets, doors, and spacious areas. Similar facilities are planned for implementation on other trains.Freight
KAI operates coal trains under a partnership with PT Bukit Asam in Southern Sumatra. The coal is transported from Tanjung Enim in South Sumatra to the Tarahan Rotary Car Dumper terminal in Lampung, from where it is shipped to Java, or from Tanjung Enim to Kertapati Apron Feeder in Palembang. After that, the coal is transported using barges for either export or domestic use.KAI also has partnerships with several private coal mining companies in South Sumatra. The first private coal train, Baraswasta, was launched in 2011 from Suka Cinta, Lahat to Kertapati, Palembang. To support operations, Suka Cinta Station was developed from a small remote station to a larger station with coal loading facilities.
The company also operates intermodal container trains.
Library train
KAI operates a library train, Kereta Pustaka Indonesia, which houses documentation of company activities, small size assets, and books. The library train holds an exhibition for one week at a station before moving to the next.Depots and facilities
In Java, KAI's main diesel workshop is located in Pengok, Yogyakarta, for maintenance of diesel electric and diesel hydraulic locomotives. In Sumatra, the maintenance shops are in Lahat Regency, Padang, and Pulubrayan.Other rolling stock workshops are present in Manggarai, Tegal, and Gubeng. These places are used for maintenance of passenger carriages and freight wagons.
A large stabling point and maintenance facility for electric multiple units are located in Depok, West Java.
Motive power depots are located in Medan, Padang, Padang Panjang, Kertapati, Tanjungkarang, Rangkasbitung, Cipinang, Bandung, Cirebon, Purwokerto, Cilacap, Kutoarjo, Semarang Poncol, Ambarawa, Yogyakarta, Solo Balapan, Madiun, Sidotopo, and Jember.
Large areas in front of Station have been used to scrap disused economy-class electric multiple units since 2013.
Safety and security
Polsuska is KAI's security unit. It is responsible for maintaining law and order, including ensuring the security of railway stations and train passengers. Polsuska functions as a special railroad police unit that issues tickets and patrols stations to supplement the work of the national police. Polsuska officers wear black uniforms and orange berets pulled to the left. The unit is trained by the Indonesian National Police and operate under the command of the Indonesian Railway Company's Directorate of Safety and Security.The commuter lines that serve Greater Jakarta maintain a separate security force Petugas Keamanan Dalam . Their service uniforms are dark blue and they wear white helmets.
Every railway station employs security guards to assist Polsuska in maintaining order and security. During peak travel periods, such as national holidays, Polsuska may be assisted by members of the armed forces and police.
Legislation
took effect on 25 April 2007. Under this law, track maintenance is handled directly by the government through the Directorate General of Railways under the Ministry of Transportation.Logo history
When it was first inaugurated as a single company, the logo of the Republic of Indonesia Railway Service was a red and white circle with a sketch of the front of a steam locomotive at its cente. This logo was used from 1945 to 1950.The second logo during the Djawatan Kereta Api era was launched in the form of a circle around a winged wheel with the initials DKA in the centre, and the words "Djawatan" at the top and "Kereta Api" at the bottom. With the launch of the CC200 locomotive in September 1953, the winged wheel logo design began to be used on the front and rear of the locomotive. The wheels featured five twin wings. This logo was then used as the locomotive logo until the company's transformation into a Perum in early 1991.
With the transfer of the company's form as a government-owned corporation from being a government department in 1963, PNKA adopted its first corporate emblem named "Wahana Daya Pertiwi," meaning "transformation of railways as a reliable means of transportation to realize national welfare goals". The logo is a Garuda gripping a train wheel and wearing a pentagonal shield necklace with the words "KA". The wheel stands on a ribbon with the words "Wahana Daya Pertiwi", which also supports rice and cotton on the left and right of the wheel.
Currently, the "Wahana Daya Pertiwi" symbol is used as a symbol of service and ornaments for PT KAI buildings, and is attached to pins, peaked caps, and emblems on the left sleeve of KAI employee uniforms. This symbol is also on the front of KAI's inspection train and on the left and right sides of the vintage CC 201 83 31 series locomotives belonging to the SMC Main Depot.
In 1988, the PJKA logo, now as a Limited Liability Company, was replaced with a blue pentagon, and used as a locomotive logo as well as a company logo, and the "Wahana Daya Pertiwi" symbol was changed to a service symbol. This blue pentagon logo did not last long considering that PJKA wanted to change its logo again until the end of 1990. The pentagon-based logo has the word "KA" in the middle which is formed from train bogie wheels.
As a prelude to the transformation as a Public Corporation, PJKA entrusted Priyanto Sunarto and Indarsjah T. as consultants for the design of the Perumka logo. The logo was designed by Iman Sudjudi at Studio OK!, and was nicknamed the "Z letter logo" or "number 2 logo". Perumka informed that the logo featured an orange parallelogram containing silhouettes of two fast trains with pointed ends, symbolizing the direction of travel and the principle of "giving and receiving." Underneath it is written "KERETAPI". The logo was launched together with the inauguration of Perumka on January 2, 1991.
On September 28, 2011, coinciding with its 66th anniversary, PT KAI launched a new logo. The logo was created by Farid Stevy Asta, vocalist of the rock band FSTVLST, who won first place in the company's new logo design competition. Asta, who worked on the KAI logo at LibStud, said that he himself was "inspired by the old KAI logo". The logo consists of three curved lines with two orange, one blue below, and a transparent arrow. PT KAI describes the elements of the logo as follows: lines as dynamic movements in achieving the vision and mission, and arrows symbolizing "integrity values". The two oranges symbolize "internal-external excellent service," and the blue symbolizes "innovation to provide added value to stakeholders".
In commemorating its 75th anniversary on September 28, 2020, PT KAI inaugurated a new logo in the form of three letters of the alphabet, namely "K", "A", and "I" which are written in italics. The train-like accent on the letter "A" symbolizes "hope to advance the company as the best and most synergistic transportation ecosystem" and the use of two colors that have different meanings from the previous logo, namely the combination of these two colors reflects aspects in "harmonious relations between KAI and all stakeholders in the railway sector", with blue symbolizing "stability, professionalism, trustworthiness, and confidence of the company", and orange symbolizing "enthusiasm, creativity, and determination of the company".
Subsidiaries
KAI operates multiple subsidiary businesses.The Railway Employee Welfare Center Foundation, one of PNKA's foundations, established PT Karya Pusaka and renamed it PT Pusaka Nusantara on 18 April 1970. Pusaka focuses on restoration, outsourcing, and cleanliness of train infrastructure and facilities.
The first subsidiary of PT Kereta Api was. This company focuses on business services to support railroad operations, such as restoration, parking, cleanliness on the train, restaurants and cafes, train washing, and comfort support. The company was formed on 2 July 2003. Reska owns the LoKo trademark, a restaurant chain with the theme of rail transportation that operates many station restaurants.
The Jabotabek Urban Transport Division manages electrified commuter service in Jakarta metropolitan area as a subsidiary under the name PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia.
Kereta Api Pariwisata provides rail tourism services. KA Properti Manajemen provides property management. Kereta Api Logistik provides logistics. A KAI joint venture with Angkasa Pura II operates an airport train service, under the name via the Kualanamu Airport Rail Link train.
PT KAI is in a consortium with , , and Jasa Marga, under the name Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia for the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed train project operated by Kereta Cepat Indonesia China.
Pursuant to Indonesia's "two shareholder minimum" on limited companies, Yayasan Pusaka owns less than one percent of shares in KAI's consolidated subsidiaries except KAI Bandara and PSBI/KCIC.
Rail replacement through transport (Angkutan terusan)
KAI through transportation is a service provided to facilitate passenger travel, both those who are going to the station and those who are going to continue their journey after getting off the train. Some of PT KAI's through transportation routes include:Semarang to Demak, Kudus, and Pati
This through transportation serves a round-trip route from Semarang Tawang Station or Poncol Station to the three cities. It uses Isuzu Elf vehicles equipped with air conditioning, reclining seats, entertainment systems, and USB chargers.Purwokerto to Wonosobo, Banjarnegara, and Purbalingga
This service operates from Purwokerto Station to the three destinations and back. It uses an Elf fleet with a capacity of 12 passengers.Former subsidiaries
Dinas Pelayaran
Dinas Pelayaran was the company's water transportation division. Its service was formed in the 1950s after the merger of the Republic of Indonesia Railway Department and the Staatsspoorwegen en Verenigde Spoorwegbedrijf to become the Railway Department —formed to serve passengers crossing Madura, Bali, and Sunda straits, as well as the Ogan and Musi rivers. The crossing service provided is continuous transportation for train passengers who wish to continue their journey by crossing the rivers or straits served. In 1989, the company dissolved this along with the formation of ASDP. Other reasons, such as the construction of Ampera Bridge in Palembang and the decommissioning of the railway line on Madura Island, made the division's fate even more gloomy.History
Along with the merger of DKARI and SS/VS into the Railway Service in the early 1950s, several ferries and tugboats or pilot boats were also provided to DKA. Ferries were specifically for canal transportation that served passengers, goods, and vehicles that would cross the Sunda Strait, Bali Strait, and Madura Strait, as well as the Musi River and Ogan River. Tugboats and pilot boats were used to guide large ships entering and leaving the port.At that time, DKA received the handover of the railway station in the port complex along with its dock which had originally been managed by railway employees such as Merak Station with Merak Port, Long Station with Long Port, Ujung Station with a pontoon dock, Kamal Station with a pontoon dock, and Banyuwangi Lama Station which was integrated with DKA's feeder bus and crossed by DKA's ferry to Gilimanuk Port, Bali.
The operation of the Railway Service's ferry as a connecting transport has many benefits and has successfully attracted many enthusiasts. The Railway Department provides shipping with several routes, such as Merak Port-Long Port and the Musi River crossing to support the Jakarta-Palembang connection via train, Ujung Station pontoon pier–Kamal Station pontoon pier to support the connectivity of the Surabaya railway line with the Madura railway line and the mobility of its residents, and Gilimanuk Port-Banyuwangi. On the Gilimanuk Port-Banyuwangi shipping route, the Railway Department also provides feeder bus services. The connectivity of Banyuwangi with Bali Island greatly supports the creation of connectivity and social mobility in the region, especially in the tourism sector.
In addition to ferries, the Railway Service also has a number of tugboats that are on duty at the port/pier near Kertapati Station to guide barges from Palembang Port to the port/pier Kertapati Station. These tugboats are under the inspection of the South Sumatra Exploitation Leadership.
Inter-island crossing activities in Indonesia have been pioneered by the Government in this case the Railway Service. Historical facts record that the ship Taliwang was one of the first connections
from the Merak–Panjang route in 1952.
In 1960, the Dutch Government provided a grant to the Indonesian Government in this case the Railway Department in the form of three 2,314 GT ships imported directly from the Netherlands: KM Halimun C/S PKMH and KM Krakatau in 1961, and KM Bukit Barisan in 1962. Unfortunately, KM Bukit Barisan caught fire and sank while unloading at Pelabuhan Merak in 1977. The three ships were built at the Zaandam Shipyard with a Werkspoor 750 DK × 2 production engine, used to serve crossings from Pelabuhan Panjang to Merak Port which is currently part of the Banten region.
The main service on this route is only passengers and goods. Vehicles were transported to the deck using a crane, as the ships lacked ramp doors. The expansion and development of Merak Ports III, IV, and V, now operated byits fleet of ships ASDP, serves as a reminder of the former port operations conducted by Perusahaan Jawatan Api for loading and unloading its fleet of ships.
Services
Here are the services that have been operated.| Location | Crossing | Fleet | Description |
| Sunda Strait | Merak-Panjang |
| The assets that still exist today are managed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry and PT Dharma Lautan Utama |
| Madura Strait | Ujung-Kamal | The assets that still exist today are managed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry and PT Dharma Lautan Utama | |
| Bali Strait | Boom -Gilimanuk | The assets that still exist today are managed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry and PT Dharma Lautan Utama | |
| Musi River and Ogan River | Palembang-Kertapati | The assets that still exist today are managed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry and PT Dharma Lautan Utama |