Barru to Makassar

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

There is no online booking, so plan ahead. This is a KA Perintis pioneer service operated by KAI Daop 8 Surabaya, sitting outside the normal ticketing system. Tickets are sold only at station counters, open daily 06:00 to 16:00 WITA, and reservations open just seven days before departure rather than the 45 days that applies on Java. Bring photo ID; counters accept cash or QRIS.

This matters more on the return leg. If you have travelled up in the morning, buy your return ticket while the counter at Garongkong is still open rather than assuming you can sort it later.

Be realistic about what this is. Departures are infrequent, intermediate stations have little around them, and most passengers are locals or Makassar day-trippers. It is not yet a practical way to move around South Sulawesi.

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