Train travel in Indonesia is becoming more seamless and environmentally friendly, thanks to KAI’s commitment to sustainability. The railway company is actively integrating green technology into its operations, one of which is the adoption of a face recognition system that replaces paper-based tickets for boarding. This innovation not only speeds up the boarding process but also significantly reduces paper waste, aligning with global sustainability goals.
According to KAI Vice President of Public Relations Anne Purba, the introduction of face recognition technology has had a positive impact on both efficiency and passenger convenience.
“The implementation of face recognition simplifies the boarding process and minimizes queues of train travel in Indonesia, especially during peak travel seasons like the Eid homecoming period. Since its launch on September 28, 2022, until March 6, 2025, a total of 10,624,962 train passengers in Java and Sumatra have utilized this technology,” Anne stated in a press release on Saturday (March 15, 2025).
To enhance services during the busy Eid travel period, KAI has installed face recognition technology at 21 train stations across several regions. These include:
- Jakarta: Gambir, Pasar Senen, Bekasi
- Bandung: Bandung, Kiaracondong
- Cirebon: Cirebon
- Semarang: Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng, Pekalongan, Semarang Poncol, Tegal
- Purwokerto: Purwokerto, Kutoarjo
- Yogyakarta: Yogyakarta, Lempuyangan, Solo Balapan
- Madiun: Madiun
- Surabaya: Surabaya Pasarturi, Surabaya Gubeng, Malang
- Jember: Jember
- Medan: Medan
Anne noted that public interest in this feature has grown significantly over the years. “The response from passengers has been remarkable. In 2023, 2,922,780 passengers used the face recognition system, and in 2024, the number surged to 7,141,649,” she explained.
Beyond enhancing convenience, this innovation plays a crucial role in reducing paper waste. Since its introduction, KAI has saved 25,298 rolls of paper tickets.
“Through this initiative, KAI has saved approximately IDR 379,462,929 from September 2022 to March 6, 2025. This effort also contributes to reducing deforestation caused by paper production,” Anne added.
Read also: Indonesia’s Waste Crisis Worsens, Plans Underway to Build Waste-to-Energy Plants
Passengers who wish to support this environmental initiative can register for face recognition boarding through the Access by KAI application.
Regarding data security, KAI has implemented an internationally certified information security management system, ISO 27001, ensuring passenger information remains protected.
“Passenger names, ID numbers, and photos are stored within KAI’s infrastructure and are only used for face recognition boarding verification. The data is kept for one year before being automatically deleted by the system,” Anne assured.
Additionally, passengers have the option to request data deletion at any time after registration, either through the Access by KAI app or by submitting a request to KAI’s Customer Service staff at the station.
