The new urban railway network in Bali will welcome its first passengers only in 2031, but authorities and stakeholders are already calculating how much tourists will need to pay for tickets.
Since the metro will be free for Bali residents, tourists will eventually foot the bill for this multi-billion-dollar project. It remains unclear whether KITAS holders, who are not considered tourists but are still foreigners, will have to pay. However, authorities are expected to resolve this issue by 2031.
Ari Askhara, Director of Sarana Bali Dwepa Jaya (SBDJ), the main contractor for the project, shared details on how Bali's urban railway network will revolutionize the way tourists travel in the southern regions of the island and revealed the projected ticket prices.
"According to our forecasts, the cost for tourists will range between 35 and 40 USD per week, which is around 600,000 IDR. This will make traveling around Bali much more efficient throughout the week, no matter when or where you want to go."
This price isn't small, and only time will tell if tourists are willing to pay 40 dollars a week for travel to the station and then potentially pay additional taxi fares to reach their final destination. So far, it's unknown how much a single-trip ticket will cost; the current focus is on the weekly pass. It seems the project leaders are calculating this based on the average stay of tourists in Bali.
Askhara’s decision to make the urban railway network free for Bali residents was supported by Bali’s acting governor, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya.
He clarified: “I hope that in the future, tickets for Balinese residents will remain free. Yes, you'll need a Bali ID card. So, if you have one, you're in luck because you’ll need it later.” Interestingly, any Indonesian citizen, after going through certain bureaucratic procedures, can get a Bali ID. However, this option is not available for foreigners.
He emphasized that most of the train users will be foreign tourists, so it’s only fair to charge them a reasonable fee for tickets.
However, 2031 is still a long way off. If you try to calculate the return on investment, the first two phases of the project are expected to cost 11 billion USD, and phases three and four another 20 billion USD. Even if all 7 million annual tourists pay 40 dollars each, the project would only break even and start generating profit after around 111 years. That is, of course, assuming it is maintained well throughout this time. Therefore, the 40-dollar fare might be quite optimistic.
Askhara also provided details on how each phase of the project will be implemented. In April 2025, ten tunnel boring machines will arrive in Bali to start drilling where necessary. While underground tunneling is underway, builders will simultaneously work on constructing ground-level railway stations.
He added: "According to forecasts, the first line will be operational by early 2028. The second phase will be completed by late 2028. This is due to the rocky soil in Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu, where drilling will proceed at a slower pace of about three meters per day. In contrast, in Nusa Dua, the limestone soil will allow progress to be 10 times faster, up to 30 meters per day."
The new urban railway network is expected to revolutionize tourist travel in Bali. The first railway line will connect Bali’s international airport with Kuta, Seminyak, Berawa, Canggu, and Cemagi. The second line will be circular, passing through Bali’s airport, Jimbaran, Ubud, and Nusa Dua, before returning to the airport.
The third route will include Kuta, Renon, and Sanur, and a possible fourth route will connect the entire northern region with Ubud in the heart of the island.
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