Barru to Makassar by Train

The return leg of Sulawesi's only railway, running south from Garongkong near Barru back towards Mandai on the outskirts of Makassar. Services currently cover around 110km of the eventual 142km Makassar to Parepare line.

Be honest about what this is. Departures are infrequent, intermediate stations have little around them, and most passengers are locals or Makassar day-trippers rather than travellers going anywhere in particular. It is not yet a practical way to move around South Sulawesi.

Why take it anyway: the line runs past Rammang-Rammang, one of the largest karst landscapes in the world, and the limestone towers are clearly visible from the train. It is also built to standard gauge rather than the narrower track used across Java and Sumatra, making it a genuine oddity on the Indonesian network.

Further sections have been under construction in stages since 2022 and are expected to open as work completes.