Photo: Dokumentasi PT KAI

JAKARTA – PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Indonesia's state-owned railway operator, has launched the new Special Train for Farmers and Traders. 

The service, which began operating on Monday, December 1, is designed for farmers and traders in Banten to transport themselves and their goods to city markets via the Merak–Rangkasbitung Commuter Line.

The air-conditioned train modifies existing commuter trains with 73 side-facing seats, leaving ample central space for produce and merchandise. It features wider doors and open interiors and runs 14 daily trips at a fare of IDR 3,000.

Farmers and traders must register at participating stations to receive a green “Farmer & Trader” card, which allows ticket booking up to seven days in advance. Tickets are subsidized through the government’s Public Service Obligation program.

The train stops at all stations between Merak and Rangkasbitung, including Serang, Pandeglang, and Lebak. For those continuing toward Jakarta, the Rangkasbitung–Tanah Abang Commuter Line offers onward travel, with special rules to manage large cargo during peak hours.

PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia reported that Greater Jakarta’s commuter rail system, which included surrounding satellite cities, carried 166.4 million passengers in the first half of 2025. It’s a 6.13 percent increase from the same period the previous year. 

According to the Banten Provincial Statistics Agency (BPS), there were 609,226 individual farming businesses in Banten in 2023, with nearly 35 percent—about 212,650 units—located in Lebak Regency.