transportation Indonesia

Popular Transportation in Indonesia | COMPAS 2022

Indonesia transportation system has been shaped over time by an archipelago’s economic resource base with thousands of islands, and the distribution of its more than 200 million population concentrated mainly on one island, Java.

All modes of transport play a role in the country’s transport system and are generally complementary rather than competitive. Road transport is dominant, with a total system length of about 438,000 kilometers (272,000 miles) in 2008. The rail system has five unconnected networks in Java and Sumatra which are primarily intended for transporting bulk commodities and long-distance passenger traffic.

Sea transportation is very important for economic integration, as well as for domestic and foreign trade. It is well developed, with each of the major islands having at least one significant port city. The role of inland waterways is relatively small and limited to certain areas in East Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The function of air transportation is very important, especially where land or water transportation is absent or non-existent. It is based on an extensive domestic airline network through which all major cities can be reached by passenger aircraft.

 

Bus Transport in Indonesia

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In Indonesia, one of the best land transportation used to get around is by bus. There are buses that often serve various places from within the city and between cities. If it’s a holiday here, the buses fill up quickly so make sure you buy in advance during your trip.

There are different classes for buses – luxury buses, express buses, and economy buses.

Personally I think you should spend a bit more and take an air conditioned bus (either express or luxury) because it’s definitely much more value for money and not to mention better for your personal health and state of mind. Economy buses don’t just stop in many places, they are more likely to get stuck in various traffic jams from other road transport and also because of detours. It’s also almost always full of smokers who don’t hesitate to fill your entire bus with smoke, and this will culminate in killing everyone when it’s raining and all the windows and doors are closed.

Economy Bus

It usually goes between cities and picks up passengers on the side of the road, so be prepared for frequent stops and your bus journey may take a long time to reach your destination. It can always be hot and crampy.

Express Bus

Also known as patas, these official buses do not stop to pick up passengers on the side of the road and go straight to their destination. There are air-conditioned express buses which are more comfortable. You should be able to get a seat for this bus in most major cities.

Luxury Bus

The bus is air conditioned and most comfortable in the parking lot. These may vary though depending on the price category, have different amenities such as recliners, movies or snacks. These buses must be booked in advance either through a travel agent or on your own and you can choose your seat. There are also luxury night buses for long-distance travel and can be a good option to save time and even save on hotels for travelers on a tight budget or time tight!

Security

In general it is okay to travel by bus in Indonesia but even wherever you are, common sense applies. Try to carry as few things as possible and always keep an eye on your belongings. There is also a lack of luggage space on economy buses so you may want to get a luxury bus if you have large luggage.

Cost

The cost of an economy bus varies from one area to another with a range of IDR 50,000 to IDR 80,000 while the cost of a luxury bus ranges from IDR 150,000 to IDR 200,000.

Bemo (Minibus)

This traditional transportation in Indonesia is known as bemo/minibus. It does not serve between cities but usually travels within the city. They usually descend with a hand signal (a one-handed wave with a palm down is common in Indonesia) and when they reach your destination, simply tap on the window and say “kin” (which means stop on the left). It only costs around Rp. 2,000. Ranging from what looks like a big rickshaw to a minivan.

Bus departs from Jakarta

Kalidera – to the west of Jakarta

Kampung Rambutan – to the south and southwest of Jakarta

Pulo Gadung – to the center and east of Java, Sumatra and Bali

Lebak balus – long distance bus to Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Bali

 

Rail Transportation in Indonesia

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Most of Indonesia’s railways are located on Java, used for both passenger and freight transport. This train is operated by Kereta Api Indonesia.

The intercity rail network is complemented by local commuter rail services, particularly in the metropolitan areas of Jakarta and Surabaya. In Jakarta, the Commuterline KRL service carries more than one million passengers per day. Urban rail networks also exist in some cities. The Palembang LRT started operating in 2018, the first of its kind. MRT Jakarta and LRT Jakarta began operating in 2019, with the Jabodetabek LRT system currently under construction.

There are four separate rail networks in Sumatra: one in Aceh, one in North Sumatra (the Aceh connection is proposed to be completed in the 2020s), another in West Sumatra, and finally in South Sumatra and Lampung. South Sulawesi has a railway network in Barru Regency as a result of the construction of the Trans-Sulawesi railway, although the network has not yet been used.

There are no railways in other parts of Indonesia, although new networks are being developed in Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

The government’s plan to build a high-speed railway (HSR) was announced in 2015, a first in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It is expected to connect the capital city of Jakarta with Bandung, covering a distance of about 140 kilometers (87 miles). Plans were also mentioned for a possible expansion to Surabaya, the country’s second largest city.

The train network, although not the best or the fastest, can be a pretty good alternative to taking the bus in Indonesia.

Double tracking has been carried out on most major congested lines and this effort is still ongoing.

Train Type

The types of trains are Executive Class (Executive Class), Business Class (Business) and Economy Class (Economy Class) which are air-conditioned. Economy class is intended for budget travelers who are willing to sacrifice comfort and a little safety due to traffic jams and longer travel times. There are no sleeper trains in Indonesia. Generally tickets are available for purchase immediately, otherwise during peak holiday season, otherwise they can always be booked up to a month in advance.

Security

As always, pay attention to your belongings as trains can get overcrowded and theft can happen very often, especially on night trips, so please lock your doors/bags if possible.

Rail Transportation in Java

Java has the best railway network connecting Jakarta in West Java with other big cities such as Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Solo, covering Central and East Java. If you want to go to Bali, you can take a train to Banyuwangi and then connect by ferry to the island. Traveling by train in Java can be one of the best choices if you are not in a hurry because the tracks are beautiful, for example the train that climbs into the hills before Bandung is beautiful.

Train Departs from Jakarta

The most convenient train station in Jakarta, on the east side of Merdeka Square or 15 minutes walk from Jalan Attorney. This train goes to Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang and Surabaya. Express train tickets can be purchased in advance at the booking office here at the north end of the station.

Pasar Senen Train Station – goes east of Jakarta and has the most economy class trains.

Tanah Abang Train Station – goes west of Jakarta and has economy trains.

Trains from Jakarta to Bogor, Bandung, Cirebon, Yogyakarta and Solo.

How or Where to Buy Train Tickets

First of all of course you can buy train tickets at each train station itself but if you want another alternative you can buy train tickets at any Indomaret outlet in Indonesia. Here you may only need to pay a small fee for the transaction, totally worth it to save time and money on transportation. Before departure at the train station, simply bring the receipt to a special counter that shows Indomaret on the signboard and exchange it for a train ticket.

 

Ship Transportation in Indonesia

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Because Indonesia covers a vast archipelago, sea shipping provides an important link between the various parts of the country. Commonly used vessels include large container ships, various ferries, passenger ships, sailing vessels, and smaller motorized vessels. Traditional wooden phinisi boats are still widely used as inter-island transportation services in the Indonesian archipelago. The main traditional pinisi ports are Sunda Kelapa in Jakarta and Paotere port in Makassar.

Boat trips in Indonesia are commonplace, especially for locals, but can be long and tedious and sometimes off-budget as air travel is everywhere now. Known as Kapal Pelni, which is a company that runs giant ferries in almost all corners and islands of Indonesia wherever there are people.

Class

Class 1 – two beds per cabin with private bathroom, tv and air conditioning

Class 2 – four beds per cabin, private bathroom, tv and air conditioning

Class 3 – six beds per cabin, air conditioning and shared bathroom

Class 4 – a bed in a dorm

Economy class (economy) – common area and first come first serve basis for resting place

Economy class

Most people say that the true journey of a Pelni boat trip is by economy class, where you rush in with the locals as soon as the boat arrives to stake your place and cram it all in with them, using rattan mats as your ‘bed’ and to mark your territory.

Food

There are people who sell food on board but don’t find it delicious, even bordering on edible or not. It’s best to pack your own food for long trips.

Security

It can get very crowded during peak season, sometimes overcapacity by more than double the limit. Due to overcrowding, safety was a question as there were not enough lifeboats for an emergency.

Pickpockets are also common, especially in economy class.

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