Jakarta MRT: Metro Lines, Stations and How to Ride
Jakarta MRT: the operating line and how to ride it
The Jakarta MRT is a north–south urban railway that links Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta with Bundaran HI in Central Jakarta. The passenger line opened on 24 March 2019 and has 13 stations. For a visitor, the most useful thing to understand is the split between the two halves of the route: the southern stations run above street level, and the central stations run underground. If your destination lies close to one of these stations, the train gives you a direct rail link across much of the south-to-centre corridor. It does not yet run as far north as the old city.
Before you leave, pick the station that sits nearest your actual destination and note its name in the order the line uses. The station names shown on the system can include sponsor names, so the district name is the stable part to recognise. A stop with a familiar district name can still leave you with a walk or an onward ride to your address, so check the street and the entrance you need before deciding the train covers the whole journey.
Station order from south to north
Starting at the southern terminus, the stations run in this order: Lebak Bulus, Fatmawati, Cipete Raya, Haji Nawi, Blok A, Blok M, ASEAN, Senayan, Istora, Bendungan Hilir, Setiabudi, Dukuh Atas and Bundaran HI. A southbound train follows the same stations in reverse. Lebak Bulus and Bundaran HI are the two terminals of the passenger line, so a train heading north from Lebak Bulus will end its run at Bundaran HI.
Blok M is the stop to choose when your plans centre on the Blok M district itself. ASEAN is the next station north. Its name can mislead visitors into expecting a location beside every organisation with a similar name, so use a map pin for the meeting place itself before you choose between ASEAN and the stations nearby. Senayan and Istora both serve the sports and event precincts around the Gelora Bung Karno area, but they are separate stops, and the right one depends on which side of the area you need. Agreeing on a station exit is more useful than saying “near Senayan”, because the station and the venue can be separated by busy roads.
Bendungan Hilir and Setiabudi bring the line into the Sudirman business corridor. They suit office visits and appointments in that part of central Jakarta. Dukuh Atas is the station where the line meets other transport, and it is the stop to use if your journey continues by another service. Bundaran HI, the northern terminal, is a useful central stop, but it is not the same place as the Kota Tua district, which is a separate area and needs its own onward journey.
Elevated southern stations and the underground centre
The southern part of the line is elevated. Between Lebak Bulus and ASEAN, the train runs above the surrounding roads, so you can see the streets and districts as you pass through Fatmawati, Cipete Raya, Haji Nawi, Blok A and Blok M. Riders who like to keep track of where they are often find this section easier to follow, and a window seat gives a clear view of the city.
Beyond ASEAN the line goes underground. The stations from Senayan through Istora, Bendungan Hilir, Setiabudi and Dukuh Atas to Bundaran HI are all below ground, so there is no street view to help you judge your position. Use the station displays and the announcements to track your stop, and move towards the exit before the train reaches it. Reaching an underground platform also means walking through the station interior, so allow more time if you are carrying heavy luggage, travelling with someone who walks slowly, or need to find a particular exit.
The change between the two sections is not a problem for the journey, but it does change the feel of the ride. On the elevated stretch the train moves through open air and the city is visible. In the central tunnel the sense of distance disappears, and the station boards and the platform doors become the main guide. Keep your belongings close in the doorway area, and step out when the train has stopped and the doors have opened.
Planning a route with the MRT and the rest of the city
The MRT is a strong option when your origin and destination both sit near the corridor. It is less useful when the address lies well away from it. Jakarta’s other public transport, including the TransJakarta busway, the minibuses and the commuter rail, reaches many areas the MRT does not. The TransJakarta busway guide and the mikrolet minibus guide cover those options in more detail, and the public transport overview sets out how the modes fit together.
A practical way to plan is to write down three points before you set out: the station you will board, the station where you will leave the train, and the exact entrance or street of your final destination. If the last leg is more than a short walk, plan it separately. Rain, luggage and heavy traffic at the street level all affect the final part of the journey more than the route map suggests, so do not count the train time as the whole trip.
For a visit that combines an MRT ride with a wider look at the city, pair the train with a stop that is easy to reach on foot once you arrive. The Gambir station guide is the place to read about the rail station in that part of town, and the Sawah Besar district guide describes the neighbourhood that lies along the planned northern extension of the line. Treat the two as separate trips rather than one continuous ride.
Tickets and the station gates
The MRT uses electronic ticketing. At the station, use a payment method that the MRT currently accepts, and pass the entry gate with that card or in-app ticket. Keep the card where you can reach it quickly rather than buried in a bag. If you are travelling as a group, each person needs a valid way through the gates, so do not rely on one person’s tap for everyone.
Some transfers involve a second payment step. Where you change to another service, the card or ticket that opened the MRT gate may not work at the next gate in the same way. Treat each change as a separate entry, and allow time for it, especially if you are carrying luggage.
If a gate does not accept your card or ticket, stop and resolve the problem before you enter the paid area. Do not follow another passenger through a gate, and do not try an uncertain payment method at a gate that is already busy. Visitors who arrive with a card bought in another city should check the card works on the MRT before they plan a tight connection.
At the platform and on the train
Read the direction boards for the end of the train’s run rather than trusting the platform number alone. A southbound train ends at Lebak Bulus and a northbound one ends at Bundaran HI. If you are unsure which way you need, check before the fare gates or ask staff while you are still in the public part of the station, since correcting a direction after boarding wastes time.
On the platform, let passengers leave the train before you board, and keep to the marked queue area. The doors line up with the platform barrier, so wait behind it until the train has stopped. When the carriage is busy, move inside and keep the doorway clear. Standing near the door can feel convenient on a short trip, but it blocks movement at the stations where many people are changing.
Peak periods bring the heaviest crowds to the central stations, especially around the Sudirman business corridor and the interchange area. If you have a meeting at a fixed time, avoid making your first ride of the day the one that depends on a tight transfer. A margin of time helps with the station, the platform and the final walk.
Events and the final walk
Large events in the Senayan and Istora area can change the feel of the station approaches even when the railway itself runs as normal. If you plan to meet a group after an event, choose the station and the exit area in advance and agree the side of the station you will meet on. A named station and an exit are much easier to find in a crowd than a message saying you are “near the venue”.
The walk from the station to your destination is part of the journey. Set the map pin on the building entrance you need rather than on the middle of the station symbol. At elevated stops such as Fatmawati and Blok M, the walk to and from the street happens at street level, while at Dukuh Atas a change between services means walking through the interchange. Both can take longer than expected with a suitcase, a pushchair or a companion who needs a slower pace.
The MRT and a Bali itinerary
For a traveller who is combining Jakarta with Bali, the MRT is useful for moving around Jakarta during the Jakarta part of the trip. It does not take you to Bali, and the Jakarta MRT does not operate on the island. Keep the two legs separate in your plans. If you arrive in Jakarta with heavy bags, check how far the station is from your hotel and how far you will walk with them, before choosing where to stay.
For the island portion of the trip, plan the flight and the onward transport separately. The Jakarta city guide is the place to start for the capital itself, and the MRT section above covers the rail line in detail. If Bali is the main purpose of the trip, there is little reason to route sightseeing across Jakarta just to ride the train. A ride on the line makes sense when you have a real stop along it to visit, such as the Blok M area, the Senayan precinct, the Sudirman corridor or the central area near Bundaran HI.
What the northern extension will change
The current northern terminal is Bundaran HI. A second phase, called Phase 2A, is under construction to extend the line north towards Kota. Its planned stations between Bundaran HI and Kota are Thamrin, Monas, Harmoni, Sawah Besar, Mangga Besar and Glodok, with Kota as the terminus. These are construction plans rather than stations you can board today. Until the extension opens, a journey to those northern districts needs a separate onward leg from the operating line.
Schedules for the extension have been revised more than once, so check the current status before planning a trip around it. A visit to the old city is a good example: once the northern stations open, the line will reach the districts that a traveller would normally reach by taxi or bus. For now, plan that part of the trip with a different mode of transport. The Kota Tua guide describes the old city in more detail.
Questions visitors ask about the Jakarta MRT
How many stations does the MRT have?
The operating passenger line has 13 stations, seven of them elevated in the south and six underground in the central section. The line runs from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI.
Does the MRT go to Kota?
Not yet. The Kota extension is a construction project. Use the operating line to reach Bundaran HI, then make the rest of the journey by another mode.
Which station is best for the Sudirman business area?
Bendungan Hilir and Setiabudi serve the Sudirman corridor. Choose the station that sits closest to the street you need, and check the walk from the exit before you set out.
Can I get a train from the airport?
The MRT is not an airport service. Plan the airport journey as a separate trip, and check the transport options for that leg before you travel.