Bandar Lampung to Palembang

From Tanjungkarang in Bandar Lampung north to Kertapati in Palembang is roughly 390km, taking around nine and a half hours. It is a daytime journey: the one regular train leaves in the morning and arrives in the early evening.

Which train runs this route: the Rajabasa is now the only scheduled passenger service between the two cities. Since July 2026 it has run with modified premium ekonomi carriages: reclining seats in a 2-2 layout, air conditioning and power sockets, replacing the old upright bench stock. It is a subsidised service, and the full-length fare is among the lowest for any long-distance journey on the network. The overnight Sriwijaya and Limex Sriwijaya, which used to offer eksekutif seats on this line, were suspended during the pandemic and KAI has confirmed they have not returned.

The Java connection. Tanjungkarang is the southern end of this network, reachable from the ferry port at Bakauheni, which in turn connects to Merak in West Java. Combining the Merak ferry with this train is the classic overland route from Java into southern Sumatra, though you will need a night in Bandar Lampung to catch the morning departure.

The route. The line runs through Kotabumi, Martapura, Baturaja and Prabumulih, crossing plantation country and river plains. It is pleasant rather than dramatic, and the track is shared with heavy coal trains, so the passenger service can be held up along the way. Kertapati station in Palembang sits across the Musi river from the city centre, so allow for the transfer on arrival.

Tickets go on sale in Access by KAI and sell out at weekends and holidays. For the opposite direction, see Palembang to Bandar Lampung; to continue west from Palembang, see Palembang to Lubuklinggau.