JAKARTA - Subsidized train services through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme and pioneering trains are still the backbone of community mobility. Throughout the first half of 2026, around 90 percent of KAI Group customers come from the service group that runs PSO, Perintis trains, and government assignments.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said that government support through the PSO and KA Perintis schemes played an important role in maintaining the affordability of fares while expanding access to rail-based transportation in various regions.
"PSO helps keep the fares of a number of trips affordable, while the Perintis train opens and maintains transportation access in areas that still need Government support. Both schemes help people get travel options that suit their needs," said Anne.
KAI Group recorded that it had served 258,993,359 customers in the first half of 2026 or increased by 7.55 percent compared to the same period last year of 240,805,920 customers. Of the total, as many as 235,137,908 customers or around 90.79 percent came from the group of entities and services that run PSO, Perintis KA, and government assignments.
The group of services includes long-distance and local PSO trains, KAI Commuter, Jabodebek LRT, some KAI Airport services, South Sumatra LRT, to Makassar-Parepare trains. KAI emphasized that a number of entities in the group also operate commercial services so that the subsidy recipients directly refer to the respective service schemes.
For long-distance and local PSO train services, KAI served 9,541,158 customers from January to June 2026, an increase of 8.08 percent compared to the same period last year of 8,827,887 customers. This number consists of 5,958,724 PSO long-distance train customers and 3,582,434 PSO local train customers.
According to Anne, the PSO scheme allows the public to continue to obtain transportation services at affordable rates for various needs.
"Government support provides space for the travel needs of the community to be served at rates according to assignments. Affordability is an important part of maintaining community mobility and economic activity," he said.
Meanwhile, KAI Commuter served 204,151,200 customers in the first half of 2026 or increased by 6.58 percent compared to the same period last year. As for Jabodebek LRT, it recorded 16,018,911 customers or an increase of 22.84 percent on an annual basis.
Anne assessed that the high use of urban mass transportation shows the increasing need of the community for integrated, large-capacity, and easily accessible services.
"Mass transportation helps people to carry out daily journeys more regularly. Government support and policies are needed so that services, capacity, integration, and tariffs can be managed according to community needs," he said.
On the airport train service, the PSO service group served 3,048,132 customers during Semester I 2026 or increased by 3.14 percent compared to the same period last year of 2,955,306 customers.
The number consists of 908,898 Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) railway customers, 793,519 Srilelawangsa railway customers in the Medan-Kualanamu relationship, and 1,345,715 Srilelawangsa railway customers in the Medan-Kuala Bingai relationship.
"Airport trains provide travel options to and from the airport. Support for certain services helps people get access at a more affordable rate," said Anne.
On the Perintis train service, the South Sumatra LRT served 2,206,496 customers during the first semester of 2026, while the Makassar-Parepare train served 172,011 customers. Overall, the two services transported 2,378,507 customers in the first half of this year.
"The benefits of the Perintis train are directly related to the availability of access for the community. Its presence provides mobility options while supporting the development of public transportation and community activities in the area," said Anne.
Anne added that the success of public transportation is inseparable from the synergy between the government, regulators, operators, local governments, and stakeholders.
"The Government's support through PSO and KA Perintis helps keep the train present as an affordable, safe, and reliable transportation option. KAI expresses its appreciation for the policy and collaboration that maintains people's travel access in various regions," he concluded.
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