As Indonesia gets ready to celebrate its 81st Independence Day on 17 August 2026, public transport operators and local governments are rolling out special fares and discounts across several cities.
From Rp1 rides in Jakarta to Rp8 train journeys and Rp81 fares in Surabaya, the promotions are built around the numbers associated with Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day. There are also discounts of 17% and 81% on selected services.
The promotions are not only designed to add to the Independence Day celebrations. They also encourage more people to use public transport while supporting the wider push towards digital payments through QRIS. Here is a look at the main public transport deals available across Indonesia.
1. KAI: 17% Off Long-Distance Trains and Rp8 Urban Train Fares
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is offering special Independence Day deals covering both long-distance trains and urban rail services. KAI has allocated 67,120 seats on commercial economy-class long-distance trains operating across Java and Sumatra with a 17% discount.
- Booking period: 14–17 August 2026
- Travel date: 17 August 2026 only
- Booking channels: Access by KAI app and the official KAI website
- Availability: While promotional seats last
The promotional tickets cannot be combined with other discounts or reduced fares, although cancellations and schedule changes remain subject to KAI’s standard terms and conditions.
Rp8 for LRT Jabodebek and Commuter Line
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On 17 August, passengers can also enjoy a symbolic Rp8 fare on selected urban rail services.
The offer covers all LRT Jabodebek routes, as well as Commuter Line services in Greater Jakarta and local trains in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. The Rp8 fare does not apply to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Commuter Line.
2. Jakarta: Public Transport for Just Rp8
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Travelling around Jakarta could be incredibly cheap on Independence Day, with a special Rp8 fare available across several public transport services. The promotion applies to:
- Transjakarta, including BRT, non-BRT and Mikrotrans services
- MRT Jakarta, across all routes
- LRT Jakarta, between Pegangsaan Dua and Velodrome
Passengers still need to tap in and tap out using an eligible electronic money card or digital payment app. The fare deducted will be just Rp1 per journey.
3. Surabaya: Rp81 Fares and 81% Discounts
Surabaya is joining the Independence Day celebrations with special promotions for Suroboyo Bus and Feeder Wira Wiri from 11–17 August 2026. There are two main offers.
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81% Off GOBIS Promo Tickets
Passengers can get an 81% discount when purchasing promotional tickets through GOBIS using QRIS. A total of 2,200 tickets are available each day, split between two sessions:
- Session 1: 05.00 WIB
- Session 2: 13.00 WIB
Each session includes 700 general tickets and 400 student tickets. Each user is limited to one promotional purchase per day.
Rp81 with QRIS Tap
Passengers can also travel for Rp81 using QRIS Tap. The promotion provides 200 transactions per day for passengers using an NFC-enabled phone to tap directly on compatible tap-on-bus devices, without scanning a QR code.
4. Central Java: 81% Off Trans Jateng Fares
Public transport users in Central Java can also take advantage of an 81% discount on Trans Jateng buses from 11–17 August 2026. The promotion is available to general passengers across seven Trans Jateng routes.
Payment can be made using regular QRIS or QRIS Tap NFC, with up to 1,400 discounted transactions available each day.
Tips for Getting the Deals
- If you are planning to take advantage of these promotions, a little preparation can help.
- Keep your e-money or digital wallet topped up. Some services still require passengers to use electronic payment even when the fare is heavily discounted.
- Check the promotion times and daily quotas. Surabaya’s GOBIS promotion, for example, is released in specific sessions and has a limited number of tickets each day.
- Book KAI tickets early. The 17% long-distance train discount opens from 00.01 WIB on 14 August and is available only while promotional seats last.
- With fares dropping to as little as Rp1, Rp8 and Rp81, Indonesia’s Independence Day could be a great excuse to leave the car at home and explore by public transport.
