As the Eid homecoming season approaches, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is offering special train ticket promotions, allowing travelers to enjoy more affordable journeys.
Coinciding with the disbursement of the 2025 holiday allowance (THR) starting Monday, March 17, 2025, ticket promotions are being rapidly purchased through various travel platforms.
“The holiday allowance and 14th salary will be distributed to all state apparatus at both central and regional levels, including PNS, PPPK, TNI-Polri personnel, judges, and retirees, benefiting a total of 9.4 million recipients,” stated President Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, as reported by kompas.com.
According to the Presidential Staff Office schedule, the THR for retirees will be disbursed two weeks before Eid, specifically on Monday, March 17, 2025. For retired civil servants, the amount is equivalent to their monthly pension. This disbursement allows retirees to start preparing for Eid celebrations, including planning their homecoming trips.
Train Ticket Discounts Up to 20%
PT KAI has launched the “Ramadhan Festive” promo, offering up to 20% discounts on ticket bookings made between March 18-19, 2025, for trips scheduled between March 21 and April 11, 2025.
“We understand that most travelers focus on homecoming journeys from Jakarta to the east. Therefore, through Ramadhan Festive, we provide attractive offers for passengers returning to Jakarta at more affordable prices,” said KAI Vice President of Public Relations, Anne Purba, in an official statement on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
A total of 38,000 seats are available under this regular promo. Additionally, KAI is hosting an exclusive Flash Sale on the Access by KAI app on March 18, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM WIB, featuring 2,000 special-priced tickets:
- Executive Class: USD 18
- Business Class: USD 12
- Economy Class: USD 6
“Customers wishing to secure Flash Sale prices must book their tickets through the Access by KAI app at the designated time,” Anne added.
Massive Interest in Homecoming: 2.2 Million Tickets Sold
As of March 19, 2025, KAI has recorded 2,239,357 tickets sold, comprising 2,167,588 long-distance train tickets (62.94%) and 71,769 local train tickets (6.25%). Popular departure dates, especially from Gambir and Pasar Senen stations, have exceeded 100% occupancy due to dynamic passenger movement at various stations.
Anne Purba noted a surge in demand for specific departure dates, particularly from Gambir and Pasar Senen stations in Jakarta.
“Occupancy has even surpassed 100%, indicating a strong preference for train travel as the primary mode of transportation for the Eid homecoming,” Anne stated on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, as reported by okezone.com.
“We are continuously monitoring ticket booking trends and will optimize services to accommodate the high demand during this year’s Eid transportation period,” she added.
Here are the highest occupancy rates for departures:
Gambir Station:
- March 27: 103%
- March 28: 108%
- March 29: 107%
- March 30: 102%
Pasar Senen Station:
- March 21: 108%
- March 22: 111%
- March 23: 111%
- March 24: 109%
- March 25: 111%
Additional Trains for the 2025 Homecoming Surge
To accommodate the increase in passengers, PT KAI Daop 1 Jakarta has added 13 extra trains, available for booking from February 23, 2025. These additional trains will operate from 10 days before Eid (H-10) to 8 days after Eid (H+8), serving popular destinations such as Cirebon, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Bandung, and Malang.
“These extra trains will be available from H-10 to H+8 Eid, catering to both long-distance and local train services in commercial class,” said KAI Daop 1 Jakarta Public Relations Manager, Ixfan Hendriwintoko, in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday, March 1, 2025, as reported by tempo.co.
Long-Distance Train Tickets Still Available
As of March 18, 2025, 1.3 million tickets out of a total of 3,443,832 long-distance train tickets remain available. So far, 2,088,570 tickets (60.65%) have been sold. KAI has allocated a total of 4,591,510 seats for the Eid travel period, with 59.94% designated for economy class.
“We understand that passengers seek transportation that is not only comfortable and safe but also economical. Therefore, we have allocated more than half of the total seating capacity for economy-class trains at affordable rates,” Anne added.
With affordable ticket prices and additional capacity, KAI aims to ensure a smooth homecoming journey while enhancing interregional connectivity.
Source: kompas.com, okezone.com, tempo.co, bisnis.com
Photo Credit: via ftnews.co.id
