Leaving a personal item behind on an Indonesian train can quickly turn a good trip into a stressful one. But for one passenger on board Indonesia’s KAI Manahan Priority train, a lost phone didn’t stay lost for long, thanks to a surprisingly fast and organized response from railway staff.
Megananda Daryono had just completed his journey from Gambir to Yogyakarta on July 3, 2025, when he realized he had left his phone on seat 6A. By the time he noticed, the train had already departed the station. But instead of panic, what followed was a lesson in how a state-owned railway company handles lost items, quickly and systematically.
It all started when his child attempted to call the phone. Unexpectedly, someone answered—on the other end was a Polsuska (Railway Police) officer at Solo Balapan Station. The officer had received the phone from on-train staff, who had discovered it at 18:16 WIB. The phone was handed over via the On Train Cleaning (OTC) team and recorded officially as a found item.
Indra Sarwono, the Supervisor of Polsuska at Solo Balapan Station, explained that after securing the phone, staff coordinated immediately to return it that very night using the Lodaya 79 train service. The device arrived in Yogyakarta the same evening and was safely received by station staff there.
The next morning, Megananda was able to collect his phone simply by presenting his identification and proof of travel.
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KAI’s system for handling lost property doesn’t just rely on luck. Every item discovered onboard is logged into their Lost and Found system, stored in transparent cabinets for easy identification, and handled under strict procedures. The goal is not only to return the item but to restore peace of mind to the passengers who lose them.
“There’s a sense of pride in being able to help passengers reunite with their personal item on the train and see their happiness. That’s what it means to hold onto our value of trust,” Indra said.
The volume of lost items is not small. According to Anne Purba, KAI’s Vice President of Public Relations, the company recorded 5,634 items left behind from January to June 2025. Of these, 2,250 were classified as high-value items, ranging from phones and laptops to wallets, jewelry, and important documents, with a combined estimated worth of Rp7.47 billion.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, KAI advises passengers to report missing items through their official channels:
- Call Center: 121
- WhatsApp: 08111-2111-121
- Email: cs@kai.id
- Or visit a customer service desk at the nearest station.
Every report is processed through a clear and structured system. For KAI, returning a lost item isn’t just about recovering physical property, it’s about upholding trust and safety for everyone who steps onboard.
