KAI Changes Its Landmark Long-Distance Train Service Days After Deadly Collission

RRI.CO.ID, Bandung – Indonesia’s state-owned railway company, Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), officially renamed the long-distance train service connecting Indonesia’s two largest cities on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The change came days after the executive-class and compartment train was involved in a deadly collision with a commuter train some time ago.

Argo Bromo Anggrek was the name of the long-distance rail service connecting Jakarta and Surabaya, the country’s two largest cities, in a journey of nearly eight hours. The train was one of the fastest railway services in Indonesia before the Whoosh high-speed rail connecting Jakarta and Bandung began operating in 2023.

Tested since the early 1990s, the train originally entered service on July 31, 1995, as JS950–Argo Bromo. JS950 stood for “Jakarta–Surabaya in 9 hours, in commemoration of Indonesia’s 50th Independence Day,” while “Argo Bromo” was derived from Mount Bromo in East Java.

In 1997, its name was changed to Argo Bromo Anggrek, this time with the name "Anggrek" (orchid) and the code JS852 (“Jakarta–Surabaya in 8 hours, in commemoration of Indonesia’s 52nd Independence Day”). For more than 25 years afterward, the train became one of KAI’s flagship services, with a speed of up to 120 km/hour.

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Bandung, West Java-based KAI announced that the Argo Bromo Anggrek train would be renamed simply Anggrek. The announcement was made on the company's social media account and sparked mixed reactions from netizens.

“The simplification from Argo Bromo Anggrek is not about abandoning history, but about maturing a legacy that has long been attached to the journeys of Indonesians,” KAI said in its statement.

Rooted in the philosophy of the orchid, Anggrek — according to KAI — represents elegance, resilience, and trust in every journey. The company stated that the move was not merely a name change, but also “a manifestation of... commitment to continue providing the best service” on every trip.

“With a flagship route connecting important cities, the Anggrek train is ready to accompany journeys that are more comfortable, safe, and memorable,” KAI said.

The name change was made not long after a collision involving an Argo Bromo Anggrek trainset and a KRL Commuterline commuter train on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Bekasi, West Java. The collision at Bekasi Timur Station killed 16 people and injured more than 80 others; however, the KAI does not say whether the name change is linked to the accident.

Indonesia's president, Prabowo Subianto, has committed to repairing thousands of ungated railway crossings across the country, whether by installing a gate or constructing a flyover. A kick-off event was later held in Jakarta on Tuesday to manage any unauthorized railway crossings, involving KAI and many state agencies.