Used Japanese Train Imports Cancelled, KAI Orders 23 New Trainsets from INKA
KAI will sign a contract for 23 new trainsets with INKA in December 2026, replacing a cancelled plan to import used Japanese commuter trains. The KAI chief openly acknowledged earlier INKA-built trainsets “had many problems”, now stated as resolved.
KAI Commuter's plan to import used Japanese commuter trains is officially cancelled and replaced by new fleets from state train maker INKA, the companies announced at a joint press conference in Jakarta on 10 November.
KAI is set to sign a contract with INKA for 23 new trainsets (TS 17–39) in December 2026, with deliveries starting in early 2028. Under the earlier 16-trainset contract signed in 2023, seven units are already in service. TS-8 entered final testing on 11 November with a target operation date of 1 December, TS-9 passed its factory acceptance test and was moved to Jakarta for initial operation in January 2027, while TS-10 to TS-16 are due to run between April and July 2027.
KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin openly acknowledged that TS-1 to TS-7, produced by INKA, “indeed had many problems”, including suspension coils and air springs, bogies and doors, but said all have been resolved. INKA said its corrective measures focus on production quality control and follow-up on inspection and test results. Operational data show 89 trainsets, 1,065 daily trips and 303.79 million passengers from January to October 2026, up 5.74 percent.