The Gajayana Train
The Gajayana train is an executive class train service from Indonesian Railways Company, with a special route of Malang-Jakarta. Gajayana train connects the two large cities through the Kotabaru Malang and Jakarta Gambir Stations. This executive class service is under the management of the Indonesian Railways Company and within the Regional Operational VIII of Surabaya. Currently, the Gajayana train serves passengers using its latest carriages and is considered as one of the most luxurious and most comfortable trains.
The Gajayana train is an executive class train with a very long travel distance, which is 907 kilometers. The distance between Malang-Jakarta is reached within 14.5 to 15.5 hours, with an average speed train of 70-120 kilometers per hour. Along the way, Gajayana train will stop at 18 stations, namely Malang Kotabaru, Malang Kotalama, Kepanjen, Wlingi, Blitar, Tulungagung, Kediri, Kertosono, Madiun, Solo Balapan, Yogyakarta, Kutoarjo, Kebumen, Gombong, Purwokerto Cirebon, Jatinegara, and Gambir railway stations. The stops at Malang Kotalama, Kebumen, and Gombong stations are only for the KA 42 of Gajayana train that heads to the east (Malang). Meanwhile, the stop at Jatinegara Station is only for the KA 41 that heads to the west (Jakarta).
As an executive class train, Gajayana provides its passengers with air conditioner, TV, and toilet facilities. Each train also has a capacity of 52 passengers, with leather seating and adjustable backrest for a more comfortable trip. In each seat, passengers can also use an electrical socket to provide power for their devices, a folding table, a reading lamp, and a footrest. The luggage racks are located at the top of the seat, while blankets and pillows facilities are also available in each passenger’s seat to be used during the trip, free of charge.
The Gajayana train regularly departs at 13:30 from Malang Kotabaru Station. While in the afternoon, the train departs at 17:40 from Jakarta Gambir Station. The route for Malang-Jakarta has a duration of 14 hours 57 minutes, while the reverse route (Jakarta-Malang) lasts an average of 15 hours 26 minutes trip. The train also offers the executive class tickets with a price of Rp435.000-Rp535.000 per passenger for a long-haul trip, and Rp265.000-Rp325.000 per passenger for a short-haul trip, e.g. Malang-Tulungagung.
Interesting Info about The Gajayana Train
The Origin of Name
The name of Gajayana is taken from the title of the king from the Kanjuruhan Kingdom. The king, called Sang Liswa, was famous among the Brahmins and the people for his ability to bring order and peace in the whole country. The center of Kanjuruhan Kingdom is located in Dinoyo-Lowokwaru, Malang, East Java.
The History of The Trains
Officially, Gajayana train operates since 28 October 1999, serving executive and business classes at that time. Once it got a new train series from PT. INKA in 2001, the train serves executive class only. It had used the train with wide windows in 2008 and changed into using the best glass production train in 2009. Subsequently, in 2016, Gajayana also used the Bogie K10 before it allocated to another train.
The Trainset
Since January 2017, Gajayana train is using executive train produced by PT INKA, especially the Trainset 7 from the 2016 production and Trainset 1 from the 2017 production. The train set 7 2016 has one CC206 locomotive, one power car, eight executive trains, one dining car, and one baggage car. As for the 2017 train set 1, you will find one CC206 locomotive, one power car, eight executive trains, one dining car, and one baggage car. Both trainsets used by Gajayana train are luxurious, with a nice and comfortable interior, as well as a wider leg space.