How to travel from Surabaya to Jakarta by train

Surabaya and Jakarta, the two largest cities in Indonesia, are linked by a fast rail service that completes the 718km journey in about eight to nine hours. With relatively few stops en route, it is one of the most straightforward ways to travel between the cities, with several train options and classes available.

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Route map and details

Following the main transport corridor along the north coast of the island, the line from Surabaya to Jakarta has seen major upgrades over the past decade. While the project is still not fully complete, double-tracking has already led to better performance and more reliable services for passengers.

In the coming years, high-speed rail may replace sections of the route, cutting journey times between the two cities by half and strengthening connections between eastern Java, Semarang, and Jakarta.

Timetables

There are five trains per day from Pasarturi Station in Surabaya to Gambir Station in Jakarta:

How to buy tickets

The easiest way to buy train tickets in Indonesia is online rather than going to the station. You do pay a very small commission but the ease and convenience makes it worthwhile in our opinion.

For the normal train, Tiket is the best place to book and has a simple to use interface and accepts international credit cards. It’s also a good place to check availability, timetables and prices.

How much does it cost?

Several types of train operate on the Surabaya to Jakarta route, including the country’s flagship service, Argo Bromo Anggrek, which features airline-style lie-flat beds and complimentary meals and refreshments.

On Argo Bromo Anggrek, the most premium option is the Compartment class, with fares starting from IDR2,150,000 (US$125). Moving down through the different classes, including Luxury, Executive, and Economy, tickets on this and other services can be found for as little as IDR600,000 (US$35).