On 16 September 1871, the Netherlands Indies Railway Company opened its first railway service in Batavia. At its opening, the line stretched from near the old Sunda Kelapa port and south to what is now Gambir area. For Gambir, a small railway stop was situated on the southeast border of the Koningsplein. This stop was the southernmost stop of Batavia until 1873, when the line was extended to Meester Cornelis and Buitenzorg. In 1884 a larger station was opened to replace the smaller Koningsplein halt. The new station was built in what is now the location of Gambir Station. The station, named Station Weltevreden, was designed in neoclassical style popular in the 19th-century. The station was significantly extended in 1971. In 1928 this station was renovated in Art Deco style. In 1937 the name Weltevreden station was changed to Batavia Koningsplein Station and after Indonesian independence the name was changed to Jakarta Gambir Station. In 1992, the station was renovated into the current joglo architectural style with a lime-green ceramic facade.
Building and facilities
Gambir Station's building consists of three floors. Local tenants, restaurants, minimarkets and ticket counters are on the first floor. A ticket checking post was added after a train boarding system was implemented. The second floor contains a waiting area, food tenants, cafes, and shops. The third floor is the departure/arrival area, with two island platforms serving four train tracks. Gambir Station also has an ATM Center, toilets, public telephones, and elevators serving all floors at the station. There is a taxi pool at the east of the station.
Services
The following is a list of train services at the Gambir Station
Intercity
KRL Commuterline
The Blue and Red KRL Commuterline lines pass through but skip the station since 2013, due to the station's busy intercity schedule. Commuter train passengers must use either or station and then other modes of transport to reach Gambir station. However, the station will be converted to a Commuterline-only station as intercity trains are planned to terminate at either Manggarai or Jatinegara stations by 2021.
Many local modes of transport service Gambir Station, including: buses, minibuses, taxis, bajaj and TransJakarta. All transportation line noted is no more than 500 meter from the station.
TransJakarta
There are 2 main TransJakarta shelters near Gambir Station, which are Gambir 1 and Gambir 2. Aside from that, there are a number of feeder stops near the station. Gambir 1 serve routes:
Corridor 2C is operated only during events are being held at JI Expo. Corridor 6H towards Senen is not served by Minitrans, as it has no left high floor BRT door. Feeder routes near the station: