BLITAR – Eid train travel is accelerating across the Daop 7 Madiun railway network. Ticket sales for the 2026 Lebaran period have already exceeded 323,000 passengers.

The surge confirms that Madiun and nearby areas remain key destinations during Indonesia’s annual homecoming season.

Tohari, spokesperson for PT Kereta Api Indonesia Daop 7 Madiun, said total bookings had reached 323,465 passengers by mid-March.

He said the figure reflects strong public demand for rail transport during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

“Total ticket bookings during the Eid transportation period have reached 323,465 passengers. This shows that public interest in using trains remains very high,” Tohari said.

Booking data shows that 150,826 passengers will depart from stations in the Daop 7 operational area.

Another 172,639 passengers will arrive in the same region during the holiday travel period.

Tohari added that the number may still rise because ticket sales continue ahead of the holiday peak.

Many travelers usually book closer to departure dates. This trend is common on routes linking major cities in East Java.

To handle the increase, PT Kereta Api Indonesia has prepared 264 long-distance train trips from March 11 to April 1, 2026.

That schedule means the operator runs around 12 long-distance services each day.

The company expanded operations to keep journeys smooth during mudik, when millions travel home before Eid al-Fitr.

“With this operational support, we are working to provide safe, comfortable, and punctual service for all passengers,” Tohari said.

Passenger traffic has already shown several early peaks in March.

The busiest day so far was March 17, with 21,681 passengers moving through stations in the area.

March 14 followed with 19,874 passengers.

Another 19,369 passengers traveled on March 18.

Those numbers suggest travel demand has increased steadily since early March.

Rail officials expect traffic to climb further in the final days before Eid.

School holidays and annual leave usually drive the late surge in passenger numbers.

KAI also urged passengers to stay alert during travel and protect personal belongings.

The company asked travelers to follow safety rules at stations and onboard trains.

Indonesia’s Eid migration remains one of the world’s largest annual travel movements.

Rail services continue to carry a large share of holiday passengers.