A guide to train travel in Indonesia, including which islands have railways, maps, and how to buy tickets.

There are passengers trains on Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. It’s possible to travel extensively around Java by train, while the railways of Sumatra and Sulawesi are not developed enough to be useful for general tourism.

Indonesia train travel guide

Websites and tickets
Java railways
Sumatra railways
Sulawesi railways

Websites and tickets

Railway operator: Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is the main state-owned railway operator of Indonesia.
Official website: www.kai.id (in Indonesian)
Wikipedia: Kereta Api Indonesia

Tickets are sold on the KAI website and the Access By KAI app, but they don’t have an English option.

Ticket agent: Traveloka is an official partner of PT KAI. The booking site is more user friendly than the official site, and it can handle international credit cards (which is still a problem for some booking sites in Indonesia).

Java railways

Java has one of the best railway networks in Southeast Asia, and you can easily travel around the island without having to fly or get a long-distance bus.

The KAI railway map of Java shows current and inactive lines.

[Java and Madura Railway Network Map (view full size).]

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia.

The train from Bandung to Yogyakarta is one of the most scenic rail journeys in Southeast Asia.

Continue from Yogyakarta to Surabaya, and Surabaya to Ketapang (for the Bali ferry).

Ketapang Station is next to the port for ferries to Bali. Here is a guide on how to get from Java to Bali by train, ferry, and bus.

Sumatra railways

Sumatra has a small railway network that operates in different provinces of the island. The railway system is fragmented and not of great use for tourists.

[Map of Sumatra railways.]

Here is my complete guide to railways in Sumatra.

The eventual plan is to build a railway network that will form the Trans-Sumatra Railway.

Sulawesi railways

Sulawesi has a short railway from Makassar to Parepare. There is no use for tourism, but it’s the first stage in a long project to build a Trans-Sulawesi railway.

Disclaimer

southeastasiarailways.com is an affiliate of Traveloka.