Semarang to Solo

About 110km from Semarang Tawang to Solo Balapan, taking roughly two hours. Rather than looping round via Yogyakarta, the line cuts straight inland through Brumbung, Kedungjati and Gundih, crossing the rural teak country of Grobogan before dropping into Solo.

Which trains run this route: the Banyubiru is the dedicated service between the two cities, running twice a day in each direction. One departure is ekonomi only; the Banyubiru Ekspres adds an eksekutif carriage. It is a short, cheap and uncomplicated run.

A bit of history. This corridor follows the line the Dutch-era Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij began building from Semarang in the 1860s, the first railway in what is now Indonesia. Kedungjati station, with its long colonial-era train shed, is worth a look out of the window as you pass.

Why take it: Semarang and Solo are only a short distance apart, but by road the trip is at the mercy of traffic through the hills. The train links the restored old town around Tawang with Solo's palaces and markets, and Solo Balapan connects onward to Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Jakarta. Timetables on this line have changed several times in recent years, so check current departures in Access by KAI before you plan around them.