There are a large number of railway vehicles in Indonesia that have exceeded their service life, and frequent malfunctions seriously affect commuting efficiency and operational safety. In order to thoroughly improve the current situation of railway transportation, Indonesia's national railway has finalized a five-year large-scale vehicle renewal plan, synchronized with supporting infrastructure renovation and new train research and development, fully activating the vitality of regional rail transit.

Comprehensively update old vehicles

PTKAI, the Indonesian National Railway Company, has released a centralized update plan for railway vehicles over the next five years. Currently, 39% of the company's vehicles have exceeded their technical service life. This update covers 151 locomotives, 26 diesel electric multiple units, 15 diesel multiple units, 328 passenger cars, and 653 tank trucks. The locomotives to be replaced include old models produced in 1977, with equipment failure rates increasing year by year and unable to meet local biodiesel usage standards. The company will collaborate with local automakers and international partners to develop new locomotives, upgrade traction systems, and improve operational performance. Regarding the parameter standard of 18 ton axle load for the new aircraft, the local government will invest 200 billion Indonesian rupiahs from 2026 to 2027 to reinforce 275 bridges and culverts, ensuring the full operation of the new aircraft on Java Island by 2027. 

Innovatively upgrading commuting transportation capacity

In the construction of commuter railways, Indonesia's national railway plans to add 30 electric multiple units to the Jakarta metropolitan area, with an investment of approximately 8.7 trillion Indonesian rupiahs, equivalent to 496 million US dollars, gradually replacing 84 Japanese second-hand trains that are about 40 years old. After the project is implemented, the daily passenger capacity of Jakarta commuter railway will increase from 1.1 million to 1.4 million by 2030. Keywords: Indonesian National Railways, railway vehicle updates

At the same time, the company is laying out a new mode of rail transit and will introduce dual-mode battery electric multiple units on the 42 kilometer Padalalangqikarenka line. The procurement is planned to start in September 2026, and delivery and operation will be completed by 2027. This new type of train can adapt to the operation of contactless railway sections, and after successful testing, it will be widely promoted, providing a new path for the development of discontinuous electrification of Indonesian railways.Editor/Min Jing