Let me pick up where I left off in my last post.
My friend, Faris Fadhli, kindly shared the latest photos from Indonesia. New Indonesian-made EMUs have been introduced in the Jakarta area. Once again, my thanks go to Faris Fadhli for sharing his recent photos with me.
Please take a look at the photo above—yes, that’s an Indonesian-made EMU, KCI’s CLI-225 series, which entered service on December 16, 2025. This new model was built by the Indonesian rolling stock manufacturer INKA in cooperation with Japanese companies. For example, the basic carbody design was transferred from J-TREC, and the VVVF traction control system was manufactured by Toyo Denki.
A total of 16 sets (192 cars) have been ordered by KCI (PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia), and four sets (48 cars) are already in operation.
What is my impression of the CLI-225 series as a rail fan? From what I can see in the photos, it looks sturdy. Its front design somewhat resembles JR East’s E235 series EMU in Japan. However, I actually like the CLI-225 series better, as it features several distinctive accents, such as the linear light on the lower front.
I know that INKA began manufacturing EMUs in 2001—nearly a quarter-century ago. That first model was the European-style KRL-I series. To accommodate low platforms, retractable steps could be deployed in synchronization with the automatic doors. It was quite charming, but only two sets (eight cars) were introduced.
Sorry—I’ve done it again, talking about the old days. I think I’ll stop here for today.
Congratulations on the dawn of a new era for Indonesian trains!
