The Government of Indonesia is accelerating the expansion of its national railway network to 10,524 km as part of a major infrastructure programme aimed at reducing logistics costs, easing road congestion and supporting balanced regional economic development. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the initiative aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of building a modern rail system as a foundation for national development.
Indonesia’s active railway network currently extends approximately 6,927 km across Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Papua. The expansion strategy is tailored to the economic characteristics of each region. In Java, efforts are focused on increasing urban transit capacity, expanding rail electrification and developing semi-high-speed and high-speed rail services. In Sumatra, the priority is advancing the Trans-Sumatra railway network to support both passenger and freight transport. Kalimantan’s rail development will concentrate on dedicated logistics corridors for commodity transportation, while projects in Sulawesi and Papua include the completion of the Makassar–Parepare railway and the construction of new lines to stimulate regional economic growth.
The expansion programme follows continued growth in rail ridership, with passenger numbers increasing by 8.8 per cent from 500.5 million in 2024 to nearly 550 million in 2025. The government is also promoting logistics and tourism-oriented rail services, including dedicated train carriage programmes for farmers and traders operating in regions such as Lebak, Garut, Cilacap, Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang, Blitar, Jember and Banyuwangi.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, the expanded railway network will strengthen connectivity between industrial centres, agricultural zones, ports, airports and tourism destinations, contributing to lower transportation costs, improved mobility and enhanced national competitiveness. The government is encouraging collaboration among local authorities, operators and private-sector stakeholders to ensure the successful and safe implementation of the programme.
