Bali will build a 12-kilometre battery-powered electric tram connecting I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to Canggu. The agreement was signed in Denpasar on 1 September 2026 by the Bali Provincial Government, the Badung Regency Government, and PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Indonesia's state railway operator. Groundbreaking is planned for March 2027, with the first section operating in 2028 and the full route completed in 2029.
Project Detail
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Agreement signed |
1 September 2026, Denpasar |
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Parties |
Bali Provincial Government, Badung Regency Government, PT KAI |
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Route |
Ngurah Rai Airport → Canggu |
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Length |
Approximately 12 kilometres |
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Technology |
Battery-powered electric tram |
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Daily capacity |
60,000 passengers (~40% of corridor movement) |
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Groundbreaking |
March 2027 |
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First line operating |
2028 |
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Full route complete |
2029 |
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Originating proposal |
Bappenas (Ministry of National Development Planning) |
80,000 Vehicles a Day on One Road
The airport-to-Canggu corridor carries up to 150,000 people and 80,000 vehicles every day. Bali airport handled 13.2 million passengers between January and July 2026, and nearly all of them travel this same stretch of road.
The result is a corridor where journey times bear little relation to distance. A trip measuring under 20 kilometres can take well over an hour during afternoon peaks, and the unpredictability affects everyone using it: arriving travellers, residents commuting between Kerobokan and Seminyak, and businesses that depend on guests being willing to move around.
At 60,000 passengers a day, the tram is designed to absorb roughly 40% of movement along the corridor.
Why a Tram Instead of a Metro or LRT?
The battery-powered tram was selected over Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit because it better suits Bali's physical and cultural conditions. Earlier proposals centred on underground rail, which required extensive tunnelling.
Three factors drove the decision:
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Noise. Battery trams run quieter than MRT or LRT, which matters in residential and temple-adjacent areas.
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Construction scale. A surface tram avoids the tunnelling that underground systems require.
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Road compatibility. The vehicles are compact enough to operate within existing road widths.
Koster stated that transport development must account for Bali's uniqueness, preserve its beauty, support tourism, and avoid disrupting local community life. KAI President Director, Bobby Rasyidin mentioned that cultural, environmental and social considerations would be incorporated from the planning stage.
Technical studies and public outreach began immediately after signing, with traditional villages along the route involved in the consultation process.
When Will the Bali Tram Open?
Groundbreaking is scheduled for March 2027, with the first operational section targeted for 2028 and the complete route to Canggu finished in 2029.
These are government targets, and infrastructure timelines commonly shift. The distinguishing factor here is that the project is backed by a state-owned operator under a signed intergovernmental agreement, rather than dependent on private financing.
Which Areas Does the Route Pass Through?
The line connects the airport to Canggu, running through South Bali's most concentrated tourism and residential corridor. Areas along or adjacent to the route include:
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Kuta - closest to the airport, high-density accommodation
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Seminyak - established premium short-stay market
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Kerobokan - mixed residential and commercial
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Umalas - residential, popular with families and long-stay residents
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Canggu - northern terminus, Bali's most active lifestyle rental market
How Does the Tram Affect Property Along the Corridor?
Transport infrastructure typically affects property values at delivery rather than announcement. The meaningful dates for this project are 2028 and 2029.
Three considerations for owners and buyers:
Connectivity is a value driver, not a guarantee. Areas gaining a station generally see improved rental appeal because guests and tenants weigh travel time heavily. That effect materialises when services run.
March 2027 is the date to watch. Groundbreaking separates a signed agreement from a project under construction, and it is the point at which market sentiment typically firms.
Can You Reach Bali by Train from Jakarta?
There is no direct rail connection to Bali. The overland route from Java combines train and ferry.
Trains run from Jakarta, Yogyakarta or east of Surabaya to Banyuwangi at Java's eastern tip. From Ketapang harbour, a ferry crosses the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk in approximately one hour, with onward bus connections to Denpasar.
The journey from Jakarta takes most of a day; travellers starting from Surabaya or Yogyakarta face a considerably shorter trip.
What Changes for Visitors?
For travellers arriving on flights to Bali, current transfer options are taxi, ride-hailing, or scooter rental, each adding a vehicle to an already saturated road.
A single connection linking Kuta, Seminyak, Kerobokan and Canggu changes how the busiest stretch on any Bali map functions. Arriving passengers reach accommodation without negotiating a transfer. Visitors staying along the route can move between areas without driving.
It also expands what fits into a day. Many things to do in Bali get skipped because the drive is unappealing, particularly during late-afternoon congestion.
