KA Lokal Merak 426 from Rangkasbitung to Merak by Train (KAI Commuter Line Merak)

The KA Lokal Merak is the locomotive-hauled commuter service extending out from the KAI Commuter Line Rangkasbitung to Merak. During my trip, the old name of Lokal Merak was still used despite already being operated by KAI Commuter. The Lokal Merak has since been rebranded to KAI Commuter Line Merak since 1 June 2023 with Gapeka 2023. I took Lokal Merak 426 to finally try the full railway line from Jakarta Tanah Abang to Merak.

Rangkasbitung Railway Station

The Lokal Merak entrance at  Rangkasbitung Railway Station is at the old station building in the car park side.

The façade of the old Rangkasbitung Railway Station.

Heading into the old Rangkasbitung Railway Station.

Tickets for the Lokal Merak for immediate departure (Go Show) are sold at the manned ticket counters at the station. However, tickets only open 3 hours before departure.

On the other hand, tickets for the Lokal Merak open on the KAI Access app 7 days before departure.

This means that the Lokal Merak can get sold out before Go Show tickets are open for sale, posing a high risk for passengers relying on Go Show tickets especially during peak periods or the last train of the day.

As I needed to be sure to be able to return to Jakarta, I pre-purchased my Lokal Merak ticket online on the KAI Access app. Do note that only OVO and QRIS payment is accepted, and I needed my Indonesian friend to help me pay for my ticket.

While foreigners can register for OVO, a local Indonesian phone number is required, which is in turn hindered by the IMEI registration required for foreign phones now. The move to online payment is inconveniencing foreigners needing to use public transport in Indonesia.

The timetable for the Lokal Merak is displayed at Rangkasbitung Railway Station, in the corporate style of KAI Commuter Line and Transport for Jakarta (FDTJ).

Heading to the check-in counter to board my Lokal Merak.

For local trains, tickets are scanned without checking for identification and vaccination, which makes the process faster.

Vaccination is no longer required for KAI trains.

A waiting area for Lokal Merak passengers is provided after the check-in counter. However, as the train was ready for boarding, I proceeded straight to the platform.

Heading out the gate to the platform.

There was a KRL train blocking the way to the Lokal Merak, but passengers can simply walk through it.

Heading up the ramp to the high platform to go through the KRL train.

Walking through the KRL train to get to my Lokal Merak.

The destination sign of the Lokal Merak on the side of selected coaches.

The KRL and Lokal Merak are just beside each other on the same island platform, but passengers can’t actually do this transfer due to the separate ticketing systems for the KAI Commuter Line Rangkasbitung and KAI Commuter Line Merak.

The high platforms at Rangkasbitung are slightly higher than the long-distance coaches.

The coach number is displayed beside the door.

CC 201 89 02 leads my KA Lokal Merak 426 from Rangkasbitung to Merak.

CC is the bogie arrangement of the locomotive (Co-Co), 201 or (CC201) is the class of locomotive, 89 represents the year of manufacture (1989), and 02 represents the number in the series.

Boarding my Lokal Merak 426 at Car 1.

It was a very full train on board Car 1, partly due to the ticket sales for Go Show clicking seat numbers from the front. However, I wanted Car 1 anyway so I can hear the locomotive just in front while the train is in motion.

Being a subsidised train, the Lokal Merak only consists of Ekonomi PSO coaches seating 106 passengers each.

I booked the E seat so as to have less neighbours (3 others in my bay), so it would feel less cramped than the other side with 3 seats abreast to have 5 neighbours in my bay.

A side table and 2 2-pin power sockets are available by the window seats. Hooks are also available for light bags or for cable management, especially for the ABC side with 6 passengers sharing 2 power sockets.

Multi-split air-conditioning is provided on board the Ekonomi PSO coaches. These coaches were originally not air-conditioned, but all of them have been fitted with air-conditioning now as a public service.

Only squat toilets are provided on the Ekonomi PSO coaches.

The route map on board the Lokal Merak also bears the KAI Commuter branding with the old design of KRL route maps.

A bit odd to see this map design on board a long-distance train car, but okay.

My Lokal Merak 426 departed from Rangkasbitung Railway Station at 9.55am.

Crossing the railway crossing after Rangkasbitung Railway Station.

Crossing the Ciujung Bridge.

The trackside scenery quickly gives way to paddy fields again.

Jambu Baru Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Jambu Baru Railway Station.

At this time, I tucked in to my lunch of Rp 10.000 Nasi Padang from a local stall outside Rangkasbitung. This is probably my most worthwhile meal in Indonesia yet with rice, 1 chicken, 1 vegetable, and sambal for only Rp 10.000 (~$0.88).

Catang Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Catang Railway Station.

More passengers boarded at Catang Railway Station.

Cikeusal Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Cikeusal Railway Station.

Walantaka Railway Station

Making a longer stop at Walantaka Railway Station.

Ah, I see the reason for the longer scheduled stop here now.

Crossing with a freight train at Walantaka Railway Station.

Serang Railway Station

Making a longer stop at Serang Railway Station.

Crossing with the opposing Lokal Merak at Serang Railway Station.

The opposing Lokal Merak stopped after the pedestrian railway crossing across the main line to facilitate my Lokal Merak 426 passenger movements.

My Lokal Merak 426 considerably emptied out at Serang.

Karangantu Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Karangantu Railway Station.

Tonjong Baru Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tonjong Baru Railway Station.

Cilegon Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Cilegon Railway Station.

Some empty INKA wagons were stabling at Cilegon.

My Lokal Merak 426 further emptied out at Cilegon.

Krenceng Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Krenceng Railway Station.

There are some houses by Krenceng Railway Station on the siding.

It was a nice almost-empty ride on the last leg to Merak.

It’s easy to know when you are approaching Merak when line skirts the seaside.

The main road at Merak leading to Merak Port. This is the main road linking Java and Sumatra via the respective ports.

Passing under Trans-Java Toll Road on approach to Merak Port.

Passing close by to local houses.

Entering Merak Railway Station.

Merak Railway Station

My Lokal Merak 426 arrived at Merak Railway Station on time at 11.53am.

Disembarking from the Lokal Merak 426 via portable stairs to the low platform.

The Lokal Merak 426 stopped as marked exactly at the end of the platform, so no chance of a front picture here.

The true end of the Merak line is just ahead at the buffer stop on the headshunt.

The locomotive pulls the empty rake of the Lokal Merak to the platform end before decoupling, in preparation for the next trip back to Rangkasbitung.

The locomotive then decouples to run around the rake.

The locomotive now at the end of the Merak line on the headshunt.

Running around to the new front end of the rake.

Heading back to the station building to exit.

Heading out of the platform via the exit gate.

The ticket counter at Merak Railway Station also bears the same branding design as other KAI Commuter stations.

Boarding for the next Lokal Merak for Rangkasbitung is also now open.

The timetable for the Lokal Merak is displayed at Merak Railway Station, in the corporate style of KAI Commuter Line and Transport for Jakarta (FDTJ).

Heading out of Merak Railway Station.

The façade of Merak Railway Station.

Some disused wagons are stabled on the railway line in front of Merak Railway Station.

The walkway out of Merak Railway Station offers a nice view of the railway lines in the station.

The Lokal Merak at the westernmost active railway station on Java.

Looks like there is a connection direct to the Port of Merak from Merak Railway Station, but this is not in use.

Crossing the pedestrian path outside the gates of Merak Railway Station to continue on the walkway.

Approaching the main road junction.

The railway crossing on the main road just outside Merak Railway Station.

The vehicle entrance for the Port of Merak is just beside the railway crossing.

Here, I explored Merak’s transport terminals for a little bit while I’m here for a couple of hours.

Conclusion

The Lokal Merak is an essential extension of the KAI Commuter Line Rangkasbitung to reach the end of the Merak Line for connection to the rest of Sumatra via the ferry to Bakauheni in Lampung. However, for foreigners actually wanting to go to Sumatra, this route may break the journey possibility if tickets are sold out, as Go Show tickets only open 3 hours before departure, but online KAI Access app tickets open 7 days before departure, for payment by local online modes of OVO and QRIS only.

While the move to a cashless society is commendable, it would be best if internationally-compatible modes of payments are used. If only OVO and QRIS is accepted for online tickets, and even passport numbers are not accepted (I had to key in additional 0s to fill up all 16 digits required), it seems that public local trains are reserved for local Indonesians only, since both passenger details and payment modes are catered to local systems only.

When there are no non-subsidised trains on this route, and if foreigners want to go by train to Merak without friends in Indonesia, only the Go Show option is available, which is risky for getting tickets. The only possible to get tickets in advance from Java to Sumatra is now probably only by bus on online travel agents.