As discussed previously, Java has a surprisingly good rail network, but tourists rarely travel by train due to a lack of information or difficulty booking tickets in advance.
As an addition to its flight booking service Mau Ke Mana, a sub-division of IndonesiaMatters.com, now has a train ticket booking service to make it easier for foreign visitors to see more of Indonesia, by rail.
If you’d like having train tickets booked in advance and emailed to you as a pdf/Acrobat Reader file, please visit the timetable page, and submit a booking enquiry. Ticket payment is normally via Paypal.
See more of the country
It is difficult to see much of the countryside in Indonesia while travelling smoothly in air-conditioned comfort, due to traffic jams and poor road conditions. Travelling by train gives you a chance to see landscapes, lifestyles and scenes you otherwise wouldn’t.
Some of the more scenic train journeys are: Jakarta to Bandung, Jakarta to Yogyakarta and Surabaya to Banyuwangi.
Save time & energy, reduce stress
Almost all Indonesian airports and bus terminals are outside the city, and require a long bus or expensive taxi ride to them, especially in Jakarta. Train stations though are invariably at/near the city centre, and a short trip to hotels. Delays and problems caused by bad weather (a common problem during the wet season from November-April), traffic, etc are much less of a problem for trains.
Save money
Train tickets are very reasonably priced both compared to your home country, and other modes of transport in Indonesia. The exact price often varies a little according to the day of week.
For those with a limited budget and/or time, overnight trains are an ideal way to save both.
Travel in comfort
Executive class trains have air conditioning, while business class trains have fans; seating in both classes is relatively spacious and comfortable. Tickets can be purchased up to 40 days in advance, and all have reserved seating – a policy now mandated by the railways operator. Some trains offer both executive/business classes. (We can’t sell economy-class tickets because they only go on sale a short time before departure.)
Business and executive class passengers get free access to the departure station’s executive lounge, similar to an airline executive lounge, with comfortable chairs, TV, air-conditioning, etc; just no free food. It’s a very nice way to wait for your train to arrive, especially on a hot day or before an evening/overnight departure.
Travel safely
There are few accidents and of those that do occur more are caused by motorists at railway crossings than by railway employees. Three years ago, Kereta Api Indonesia (the national rail operator) cut the speed limit from 80 km/h to 70 km/h, thereby reducing the already rare incidence of accidents, if increasing travelling time a little.
Head over here to book a ticket, and if you have any questions ask below.
Hi
We want to go from Yogayakarta to Probolinggo by train in executive class this May. We were thinking of taking the 1am train from Yogyakarta to Surabaya (arriving at 6am) and then in Surabaya take the 9am train toward Banyuwangi.
1) Will the Surabaya-Banyuwangi train stops in Probolinggo? At what hour more-less?
2) Is there excutive class in both trips described above?
3) Is this the best way to go from Yogyakarta to Probolinggo or can you suggest a better way?
Some days later we would like to take the train from Probolinggo to Banyuwangi.
4) Can we take a train from Probolinggo to Banyuwangi in executive class?
5) Will this train stop in Kalibaru or any town close to it?
Many thanks,
Carla
We would like to travel from malang to yogyakarta March 11th Where can I find the timetable?
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Good to hear the train service has improved,the last time I travelled to Bandung was with a maniac driver hell bent on breaking the sound barrier.The few passengers on board were all looking at each other in dismay deciding if it was the end of their journey in more ways than one :-)))