From Solo

Solo, formally Surakarta, is the quieter of Java's two court cities and an underrated base. Solo Balapan station is central and sits on the main southern line, so nearly every service running between Jakarta and Surabaya calls here. It is also closer to Prambanan than much of Yogyakarta, without the tourist congestion. The commuter line west to Yogyakarta runs throughout the day for the price of a coffee, the two-hour Banyubiru heads north to Semarang Tawang, linking Java's southern main line with the north coast, and the Malioboro Ekspres runs east through Kediri and Blitar to Malang for Mount Bromo without a change in Surabaya. Some Jakarta to Malang trains use Solo Jebres, the city's second station, instead of Balapan.