The island of Java has one of the most comprehensive railway networks in Southeast Asia. Trains cross the entire length of the island, so getting the train is the best way to see the highlights of Java.
This Java railways guide features Java rail maps and articles about Java train travel.
Links and tickets
Railways in Java are operated by Kereta Api Indonesia.
Official website: kai.id (in Indonesian).
Buy Tickets: Traveloka is the easiest way to buy tickets for international visitors.
Tickets can be bought online for the long-distance services, or you can buy tickets on the day at the stations.
Java railways maps
Wikipedia is usually the best place to start for rail maps, but the Wikimedia map hasn’t been updated sine 2021. This map doesn’t show the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway line. This map also shows the Madura railway, which closed in 1987.
[Map of Indonesian Railways – Java and Madura – Indonesian version via Wikimedia Commons (view full size).]
KAI have an excellent schematic map of current and inactive lines. The only problem is that this isn’t available on the KAI website. This map is shown at stations, and there are some PDF versions online.
[Java and Madura Railway Network Map (view full size).]
Nomadic Notes articles
Jakarta Airport Rail Link – Train details, and which stations are best for visitors.
Starting from Jakarta, the train is the best way to escape the city as you don’t have to go through traffic to get to the bus station. Gambir Station is close to Jalan Jaksa, which is the backpacker street in Jakarta.
The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway opened in 2023, so it’s now possible to travel part of the way in Java by high-speed train.
For visitors, the best route to take is the train from Bandung to Yogyakarta. This is one of the most scenic rail journeys in Southeast Asia.
[View of terraced rice fields on the train from Bandung to Yogyakarta.]
Most visitors continue on to Bali, but if you can’t get enough of Java trains then you can turn back to Jakarta via Semarang on the northern route.
KA Probowangi: Train from Surabaya to Ketapang (for the Bali ferry)
[Rice field view on the train from Surabaya to Ketapang.]
Ketapang Station is next to the port for ferries to Bali. There are different ways to get to Ketapang by train, so I have made this guide on how to get from Java to Bali by train, ferry, and bus.
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