Indonesian Trains and Mountain Names

Anyone travelling by train in Java will have noticed that Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) have named several of the intercity services after mountains. As both the economy and population continue to grow, the number of trains named after mountains and volcanoes has steadily increased, both in Java and Sumatra. 

Here is a list of Indonesian train services named after mountains.

Anjasmoro – Launched in late 2019, the Anjasmoro ran between Jakarta’s Pasar Senen and Jombang in East Java. The Anjasmoro had both executive (eksekutif) and economy (ekonomi) class coaches. The name came from the Anjasmoro mountain range located close to the train’s destination of Jombang. It was replaced in 2021 by the new version of the Bangunkarta.

Argo Bromo Anggrek – Long regarded as Indonesia’s most prestigious train, the Argo Bromo Anggrek runs between Jakarta’s Gambir and Surabaya Pasarturi in East Java and has done so since 1997. The Argo Bromo Anggrek is executive (eksekutif) class only. The name comes from Gunung Bromo in East Java and ‘anggrek’ means ‘orchid’ in Indonesian.

Argo Gede – The Argo Gede ran from 1995 to 2010 between Jakarta’s Gambir and Bandung in West Java. It had only executive (eksekutif) coaches. The name comes from Gunung Gede, one of the two main peaks in Gede-Pangrango National Park, West Java. In 2010 it was replaced with the Argo Parahyangan. 

Argo Lawu – The Argo Lawu runs between Jakarta’s Gambir and Solo Balapan in Central Java and has done so since 1996. It is executive (eksekutif) class only and is named after Gunung Lawu, which is located not far from the city of Solo.

Argo Muria – The Argo Muria runs between Jakarta’s Gambir and Semarang Tawang in Central Java and has done so since 1997. It is executive (eksekutif) class only and is named after Gunung Muria, which is located not far from the city of Semarang.

Argo Sindoro – The Argo Sindoro runs between Jakarta’s Gambir and Semarang Tawang in Central Java and has done so since 2007. It is executive (eksekutif) class only and is named after Gunung Sindoro, which is located not far from the city of Semarang.

Argo Wilis – The Argo Wilis runs between Bandung in West Java and Surabaya Gubeng in East Java and has done so since 1998. It is executive (eksekutif) class only and is named after Gunung Wilis, which is located on the route of the train near Madiun. In late 2019 its route was extended to Jakarta Gambir but this was cancelled when the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Argopuro – The Sri Tanjung was formerly known as the Argopuro. Since 1995 it has run between Yogyakarta’s Lempuyangan and Ketapang (formerly Banyuwangi Baru) in East Java opposite the ferry crossing to Bali. It is economy (ekonomi) class only. It was named after Gunung Argopuro which is located on the route of the train near Jember. Interestingly, it also passes through a minor station named Argopuro near Banyuwangi but does not stop there.

Arjuno Ekspres – The Arjuno first ran between Madiun in East Java and Surabaya Kota (also East Java) as an economy-class commuter service in the 2010s and is being relaunched in 2021 running between Malang in East Java and Surabaya’s Gubeng station. It is named after the highest peak in the Arjuno-Welirang range near the route of the new train.

Bukit Serelo – The Bukit Serelo (or simply Serelo) has run since 2000 between Palembang’s Kertapati in South Sumatra and Lubuklinggau (also in South Sumatra). It is economy (ekonomi) class only. It is named after Bukit Serelo (Bukit Jempol) which is located on the route of the train near Lahat.

Cikuray – The branch line between Cibatu and Garut (both in West Java) has, in early 2022, been freshly reactivated after having been closed for nearly 40 years. A new train running between Garut and Jakarta’s Pasar Senen is economy-class only and started running in late March 2022. It is named after Gunung Cikuray, which is the highest peak in in the Garut area.

Ciremai – The Ciremai runs between Bandung in West Java and Semarang Tawang in Central Java and has done so since 2013. It is executive (eksekutif) and business (bisnis) class and is named after Gunung Ciremai, which is the highest peak in West Java and is located on the route of the train near Cirebon.

Dolok Martimbang – The Dolok Martimbang ran between Medan in North Sumatra and Pematang Siantar (also in North Sumatra) first operating between 1998 and 2007 and being relaunched again briefly in 2019 until 2021. It was business (bisnis) class only and was named after Dolok Martimbang which appears to be a considerable distance from the route of the train near Tarutung, south of Lake Toba. Pematang Siantar is however the closest train station to Lake Toba.

Galunggung – The Galunggung ran between Bandung’s Kiaracondong in West Java and Tasikmalaya (also in West Java) from 2018 until 2021. It was economy (ekonomi) class only and was named after Gunung Galunggung, which is located on the route of the train near Tasikmalaya.

Krakatau – The Krakatau ran between Merak in Banten and Blitar in East Java from 2013 to 2017. It was economy (ekonomi) class only and was named after Gunung Krakatau, which is located in the Sunda Strait not from from Merak.

Malabar – The Malabar runs between Bandung in West Java and Malang in East Java and has done so since 1998. It is executive (eksekutif), business (bisnis) and economy (ekonomi) class and is named after Gunung Malabar, which is located on the route of the train near Bandung. In late 2019 its route was extended to Jakarta Pasar Senen but this was cancelled when the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Menoreh – The Menoreh runs between Jakarta Kota and Semarang Tawang in Central Java and has done so since 2012. It is economy (ekonomi) class only and is named after the Menoreh hills, which are located a fair distance from the route of the train near Yogyakarta.

Pangrango – The Pangrango runs between Bogor Paledang in West Java and Sukabumi (also in West Java) and has done so since 2013. It is executive (eksekutif) and economy (ekonomi) class and is named after Gunung Pangrango, which is located close to the route of the train.

Rajabasa – The Rajabasa runs between Palembang’s Kertapati in South Sumatra and Bandar Lampung’s Tanjungkarang ( in Lampung province). It is economy (ekonomi) class only. It is named after Gunung Rajabasa which is located not far from Bandar Lampung.