Blambangan Express
Blambangan Express passing to Tambun, 2025 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||
| Status | Operational | ||||
| First service | 2 December 2022 | ||||
| Current operator | Kereta Api Indonesia | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Jakarta Pasar Senen Ketapang | ||||
| Distance travelled | 1.031 km (640 mil) | ||||
| Average journey time | 16 hours 30 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily each way | ||||
| Train number | 145-148 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Classes | executive & economy | ||||
| Seating arrangements |
| ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board cafe and trolley service | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | CC206/CC203/CC201 | ||||
| Track gauge | 1067 mm | ||||
| Operating speed | 70 - 100 km/h (43 - 62 mph) | ||||
| |||||
Blambangan Express (Indonesian: Kereta Api Blambangan Ekspres) is an inter-city passenger train operated by Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) with executive and economy classes. It was introduced on 2 December 2022 as a Semarang Tawang–Ketapang service, and its route was extended to Pasar Senen in July 2024, allowing travel between Jakarta and Banyuwangi without changing trains.
The service runs once daily in each direction. Following the Jakarta extension, it covers about 1,031 km and takes about 16 hours 25 minutes, making it the longest KAI inter-city route to date.[1]
History
KAI announced the Blambangan Express in late November 2022 as a new Semarang–Ketapang round-trip service. The name "Blambangan" was taken from the historic Blambangan Kingdom in eastern Java (Banyuwangi area).[2][3] KAI stated that the trainset included 4 executive coaches and 3 economy coaches, with 440 seats per trip.[2]
The train began operating on 2 December 2022 with limited operating dates during December (trial/introductory period). KAI also offered promotional fares for departures from 2 to 18 December 2022.[2] One report on the inaugural day noted 150 passengers on the first departure from Semarang, and published the initial timings for the Semarang–Ketapang schedule (18:05 from Semarang; 19:30 from Ketapang).[4] Another report described the service used rolling stock reassigned from the former the former Mutiara Timur operation, with early operations tested on weekends and selected dates.[5]
In July 2024, KAI extended the route from Semarang to Jakarta, launching Ketapang–Pasar Senen on 26 July 2024 and Pasar Senen–Ketapang on 27 July 2024. The new schedule was published as 14:50 from Ketapang (arriving 07:15) and 12:15 from Pasar Senen (arriving 04:55). Also in July 2024, the train began using new generation economy coaches in a modified layout with 72 seats, following refurbishment work carried out at Manggarai Railway Workshop.[6]
From 1 February 2025, the service schedule was adjusted again following the implementation of train travel chart 2025, including updated departure times for the Jakarta–Ketapang and Ketapang–Jakarta trips (for example, departures shown as 12:10 from Pasar Senen and 15:45 from Ketapang in one published schedule).[7]
Stations
Based on published operational information, Blambangan Express serves the following stations:[7]
- Pasar Senen (Start/End)
- Jatinegara
- Bekasi
- Karawang
- Cirebon
- Tegal
- Pekalongan
- Semarang Tawang
- Ngrombo
- Cepu
- Bojonegoro
- Lamongan
- Surabaya Pasar Turi
- Surabaya Gubeng
- Sidoarjo
- Bangil
- Pasuruan
- Probolinggo
- Klakah
- Tanggul
- Rambipuji
- Jember
- Kalibaru
- Kalisetail
- Temuguruh
- Rogojampi
- Banyuwangi Kota
- Ketapang (Start/End)
See also
References
- ^ Karina, Dina (26 July 2024). Afrianti, Desy (ed.). "Harga Tiket, Jadwal Terbaru, dan Daftar Stasiun yang Dilewati KA Blambangan Ekspres". Kompas.tv (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "KA Blambangan Ekspres, Kereta Baru yang Layani Rute Semarang-Ketapang Banyuwangi". Tempo.co (in Indonesian). 25 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Perkenalkan KA Baru, KAI Berikan Tarif Promo untuk KA Blambangan Ekspres" (Press release) (in Indonesian). PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero). 24 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Yunita, Lia Dina (2 December 2022). "Perjalanan Pertama Kereta Api Blambangan Ekspres Angkut 150 Penumpang". RMOL Jateng (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Dwi, Setiady (21 November 2022). "KA Blambangan Ekspres Dipastikan Segera Mengerel, Potensi Penumpang Semarang Raya Bakal Dikuras". Suara Merdeka (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Nur Hayat, Wiji (24 July 2024). "Tak Perlu Transit! Naik Kereta Ini Bisa Bablas Jakarta-Banyuwangi". CNBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ a b Abu Hanifah, Imam (10 March 2025). "Ini Jadwal KA Blambangan Ekspres Terbaru 2025 Rute Pasar Senen-Ketapang PP". HaiMalang.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 January 2026.