Indonesia Launches First Domestically Built INKA iE305 Commuter Train on Jakarta-Bogor Line

JAKARTA — On December 16, 2025, Indonesia celebrated the long-awaited debut of the INKA iE305, the country's first completely domestically produced stainless-steel commuter train, as it entered limited revenue service on the heavily congested Jakarta-Bogor Line.

The new trainset, manufactured by state-owned rolling stock producer PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) in Madiun, East Java, completed its final trials in April 2025. Delays in certification and extensive testing pushed the original launch schedule back by eight months, but the train finally welcomed its first paying passengers on Monday morning.

Photographed by Indonesian photojournalist Wildan, the iE305 features a sleek silver exterior with red-and-white accents reflecting national colors. Inside, commuters are greeted with spacious interiors, bright red ergonomic seats, overhead digital route maps, and modern passenger information screens — a noticeable upgrade from the aging Japanese-built trains that have dominated the line for decades.

The Bogor Line currently carries more than 800,000 passengers daily, making it one of Southeast Asia's busiest commuter corridors. The arrival of the iE305 is expected to help ease chronic overcrowding while showcasing Indonesia's growing capability in high-value rail manufacturing.

"This is a proud moment for Indonesia," said a PT INKA representative during the launch event, where promotional bags and banners highlighted the train's 100% local production. Future plans call for additional iE305 sets to be deployed across Greater Jakarta's KRL Commuterline network.

The successful rollout reinforces President Prabowo Subianto's emphasis on downstream industry and technological self-reliance, with PT INKA now positioned to compete in both domestic and export markets for modern commuter and metro trains.