KRL Commuterline

The KRL Commuterline, also called the Greater Jakarta Commuter rail, is a special train system that helps people travel around the big city of Greater Jakarta in Indonesia. It used to be called KRL Jabodetabek. The trains are run by KAI Commuter (KAIC), a part of the country's main train company called PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI).

These trains are electric and very fast, with many trains leaving one after another so people don’t have to wait long. In 2019, about 1,040,000 people used the Commuterline every day, and on one busy day, it served more than 1,154,000 passengers.

The name “KRL” means "Kereta Rel Listrik", which translates to “electric rail train.” These trains are built to work like city subways, making many stops close together to help people get around easily.

History

Colonial era

In 1917, people in Batavia, now called Jakarta, planned to add electric trains. The first electric train line ran between Tanjung Priok and Jatinegara. Construction began in 1923 and finished in 1924. The train service started on April 6, 1925, using electric trains made by companies in Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, and the United States.

By May 1927, all the train lines around Batavia were electric. Batavia Zuid station, now Jakarta Kota, closed for a while but reopened in 1929 with new electric trains. The last part of the electric network, to Bogor, finished in 1930.

Decline and revival

In the 1960s, Jakarta's transportation was struggling. Trams stopped in 1960, and some train lines closed in 1966. Some tracks lost their electricity and used steam or diesel trains instead. After President Sukarno left, the electric trains came back in 1970, but without the old electric cars. New electric trains from Japan arrived in 1976 and replaced the older trains. More trains came from Japan, South Korea, Belgium, and Netherlands, and later from Indonesian companies too.

Commuterline era

The modern electric train service in Jakarta began in 2008. A new group, KAI Commuterline Jabodetabek, took over the commuter trains. In 2011, the service became simpler with six main lines and two types of trains: Economy class without air conditioning and Commuter class with air conditioning. In 2013, only the Commuter class remained. New ticket systems and station updates followed.

Lines grew longer from 2015 to 2017, reaching Tanjung Priuk, Rangkasbitung, and Cikarang. By 2015, over 850,000 people used the trains each day. In 2016, longer trains with 12 cars started running. In 2022, the Loop Line stopped, and some parts became the Cikarang Loop Line and Bogor Line. The KRL Commuterline celebrated 100 years in 2025.

Lines and services

In 2011, a big project to make the trains better added 6 lines and 8 services for Greater Jakarta. By 2022, there were only 5 lines left because the Loop Line stopped and joined the Bogor Line and Cikarang Loop Line.

Each line is easy to find because they have different colors, end points, and since 2020, each station has a number to help you know where you are going.

Ticketing and fares

See also: KAI Commuter § KMT

Passengers can buy a special card called Kartu Multi-Trip (KMT), which helps them travel many times. This card costs Rp 50,000, which includes Rp 30,000 for travel. It never expires and can be used as long as there is at least Rp 5,000 left on it. If the balance gets too low, passengers can add more money at special machines or ticket counters.

Besides these cards, there are also cards from banks that can be used not just for travel but also for buying things at stores, gas stations, and more. Some of these cards work with buses, parking, and even toll roads. Examples include Mandiri e-Money, BRIZZI, BNI TapCash, flazz BCA, Bank Jakarta Jakcard, and Jak Lingko.

Since October 2019, passengers have been able to use their phones to pay for tickets through apps like LinkAja!, JakLingko, and Gojek. These apps show a special code that the ticket scanner reads. However, using LinkAja! for tickets stopped on January 16, 2023.

Fares

The cost of a trip on the Commuterline depends on how far you travel. It costs Rp 3,000 for the first 25 kilometers and then Rp 1,000 for every extra 10 kilometers. The government helps pay for these fares. Before this system started, the cost was based on how many stops you passed. The government made these fares cheaper, which led to more people using the train.

Stations

As of January 2019, there are 80 active and 4 inactive stations for Commuterline. All stations have areas to shop, buy tickets, and get help if needed. They also have places for quiet moments, restrooms, and a small clinic for any emergencies. Since 2017, stations have machines to buy tickets easily, and starting January 15, 2019, all stations offer free Wi-Fi for travelers.

^a Right now, Gambir station is not a stop for Commuterline trains. It focuses on longer trips instead. People going near Merdeka Square can get off at Gondangdia or Juanda stations nearby.

^b Trains going south from Bogor to Sukabumi or Cianjur start and end at Bogor Paledang station. It is just a short walk from Bogor station.

^c Duri Station was planned to connect to the Airport Commuter Train. This train was being built in 2014 and started running in 2017.

^d Pasar Senen station only stops for certain trains going counterclockwise on the Cikarang Loop Line towards Kampung Bandan or Jakarta Kota. Trains going to Bekasi or Cikarang do not stop here.

Rolling stock

The KRL Commuterline uses special train cars that come from Japan. These include cars from Tokyo Metro, Toyo Rapid Railway, JR East, and Tokyu Railways. These cars are called executive-class and can hold between 80 to 110 passengers each. Trains usually have 8, 10, or 12 cars.

Before 2016, some trains did not have air conditioning, but now all trains on this line have air conditioning. Older trains without air conditioning are no longer used. New trains, including models from CRRC and INKA, have been added to replace the older ones.

Air-conditioned rolling stock

EMU classes mentioned as current/active by KAIC on 13 November 2025:

Transferred to Yogyakarta Line

Future air-conditioned rolling stock

Retired/suspended air-conditioned rolling stock

Non-air-conditioned rolling stock (all retired)

Controversies

Main article: 2023 Indonesian used train import controversy

Incidents and accidents

Some problems and accidents happened on the train lines over the years. In June 2011, people damaged a train because they had to wait too long for their regular train.

In October 2012, a train came off the tracks but nobody was badly hurt.

In December 2013, a train hit a truck, and several people were hurt.

In September 2015, two trains crashed into each other, and some people were hurt.

In March 2019, another train came off the tracks but nobody was hurt.

In April 2026, a train was hit by another train, and several people were hurt.

Pre-2011 route and services reform

Before 2011, when the current train service started, there were many more accidents on the older train lines.

In June 1928, a train went past the end of the tracks and hit a carriage, but nobody was hurt.

In September 1968, two trains crashed, and many people were hurt.

In November 1993, two trains crashed into each other during a busy time, and many people were hurt.

In August 2000, a train was hit by a coal train, and a few people were hurt.

In November 2003, a train caught fire but nobody was hurt.

In October 2003, two trains crashed into each other, and a few people were hurt.

In December 2003, a train that was stopped on the tracks started to move on its own and went down the tracks until it stopped, but nobody was hurt.

In June 2005, two trains crashed into each other, and several people were hurt.

In January 2007, a train came off the tracks at the end of the line, but nobody was hurt.

In July 2007, a train was hit from behind by a locomotive, but nobody was hurt.

In October 2008, a train was hit from behind by a freight train, and some of the train’s cars were fixed and used again later.

In June 2009, two trains crashed into each other.

In August 2009, two more trains crashed into each other, and a few people were hurt.