On 10 March 2021, the Brawijaya train was launched by KAI in Gambir station to assist the tasks of previously operating trains such as the Jayabaya train in the Semarang–Surabaya corridor, Majapahit train and Matarmaja train in the Semarang–Surakarta corridor where all three services are on the northern route of Java, and
Gajayana in the Jakarta–Purwokerto–Malang corridor from the southern route of
Java Island which is the main route of the corridor. The Brawijaya train also indirectly replaced the position of the Bangunkarta train service which previously served the Surabaya Gubeng Station–Gambir Station route via the northern Java route (Solo Jebres Station–Gundih Station–Semarang Tawang Station) with executive class, but the Bangunkarta train route was also shortened to Jombang Station and Pasar Senen Station and diverted to the southern Java route (
Purwokerto–Yogyakarta–
Solo Balapan) with executive and economy classes. Upon arrival in Malang, the Brawijaya train set will be used for the Arjuno Express train service with the
Malang–
Surabaya Gubeng route and vice versa. The Brawijaya train journey covers a distance of 881 km (547 mil) in about 12 hours 55 minutes and the Brawijaya train added a stop at
Cikarang railway station starting 1 March 2022. As of mid-May 2023, before the implementation of the train schedule (Gapeka 2023), the Brawijaya train was transferred to Operational Area VIII Surabaya from Operational Area I Jakarta, and its trainsets were transferred to the Malang Train Depot. This was due to the arrival of two new trains in Gapeka 2023, namely the
Argo Semeru and
Pandalungan, both of which are under operational ownership of Jakarta Operational Area I. Starting 3 May 2024, the Brawijaya train has been using the New Image light steel executive trainsets, inherited from the
Sembrani. The Sembrani train has now acquired stainless steel trainsets from the
Argo Bromo Anggrek. ==List of stations==