Jakarta. State railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) turns 81 on Monday with improvements in its rail services. However, growing public reliance on trains has also brought new demands, particularly for capacity, reliability, and passenger comfort.

For KRL commuter train users, trains have become an important part of their daily mobility, especially for people who work and carry out their activities in Jakarta while living in surrounding areas.

The scale of demand is reflected in Commuter Line Jabodetabek, which recorded 178 million passenger trips from January to June 2026. Average weekday ridership reached around 1.05 million trips, with 135.7 million trips, or 76.2% of the total, occurring on weekdays, when passenger volumes peak during morning and afternoon rush hours.

Ridership has steadily recovered over the past five years, rising from 168 million trips in 2021 to 349.3 million in 2025. KAI has also expanded services, increasing daily KRL trips from 881 in 2015 to 1,063 in 2025, a 21% increase.

Lala and Syifa, who have used the Red Line (Depok/Bogor-Jakarta) since college and now rely on it for their daily commutes, said train services have become an effective transportation option. However, overcrowding remains an issue, especially during peak hours.

Lala said the problem becomes more noticeable when shorter train sets are operated.

“There are usually 12 cars, but now some trains have eight. That makes the trains even more crowded,” Lala said.

Lala hopes KAI can add more train sets on busy routes and improve facilities at several stations.

Syifa, meanwhile, hopes KAI can optimize train frequencies during peak hours and make security officers more active in assisting priority passengers, including pregnant women.

For Farhan, who uses the KRL almost every day from Bekasi to Jakarta, service reliability is a major concern.

He said disruptions at major stations such as Manggarai and Tanah Abang can affect services on other routes.

Farhan also highlighted the air conditioning inside the trains, saying it is not evenly distributed. He said some train cars feel cold while others are much warmer.

“The air conditioning should be evenly distributed. There shouldn’t be some cars that are cold while others aren’t,” he said.

He hopes technical disruptions can be minimized and that information about delays can be communicated more clearly.

Yolanda, who has used the KRL for around 15 years, also acknowledged improvements in KAI’s services.

She said KAI staff were responsive when she lost her helmet and helped her recover it through the company’s lost-and-found service.

Deddy Herlambang, chairman of the Railway Transportation Forum at the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), said KAI’s challenge going forward is to ensure that fleet and infrastructure development keeps pace with growing public demand.

Deddy said fleet renewal, particularly for KRL trains, should remain a priority as KAI needs to ensure train capacity can keep up with the growing number of passengers.

According to Deddy, this need must also be matched by KAI’s ability to invest. He said several government-assigned projects, including the high-speed railway, Palembang LRT, Jabodebek LRT, and airport railway, have put pressure on the company’s cash flow.

Beyond fleet renewal, Deddy said safety at level crossings remains an issue that needs attention. He also called for trains to operate at higher speeds so that rail services can become more competitive with other modes of transportation.

As KAI turns 81, its challenge is not only to maintain the service improvements experienced by passengers but also to ensure that further improvements keep pace with growing public demand.

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