Prambanan Express


Prambanan Express, commonly abbreviated as Pramex and Prameks is a commuter rail service that operates in Solo, Yogyakarta, and Purworejo Regency of Java island in Indonesia. It is a mainstay of public transport for the community in these three cities. The train service is popular among daily commuters as well as tourists who visit this area known as center for Javanese culture and heritage.
The train is currently operated by the national railway company, the Indonesian Railway Company, 6th Operational Area of Yogyakarta.

History

The predecessor of this commuter train was known as Kuda Putih, as there was two horses decoration above of the driver's window. The train had been operating from 1963 to 1980. It was one of the first diesel multiple unit ever operated in Indonesia. Because of lacks of spare parts, the service was terminated in 1980s.
Due to the increasing demand from commuters, the rail service was relaunched as Prameks train on 20 May 1994, connects Solo and Yogyakarta. The train consists of four business class passenger cars hauled by a diesel locomotive. In response to the intense enthusiasm for the service, the executive class cars were added. The train was replaced by diesel multiple units manufactured by Nippon Sharyo, Japan. In 2006, the diesel-electric multiple units made by PT Inka Madiun was introduced to support Prameks. The higher enthusiasm of passengers using this train, in 2007 Prameks began opening the Yogyakarta-Kutoarjo-Solo route. The route is now served by three sets of diesel-electric multiple units and five sets of diesel multiple units.

Route and fare

Currently the train serves 20 trips from Solo to Yogyakarta at total. Some of the services extends to Kutoarjo railway station, Purworejo. The train stops at Kutoarjo, Jenar, Wates, Yogyakarta, Lempuyangan, Maguwo, Klaten, Purwosari, and Solo Balapan station. As of December 2018, the fare is Rp10,000 for a single trip.