{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1804411,
        "msgid": "kai-group-transports-2-3-million-passengers-and-11-million-tonnes-of-logistics-in-south-sumatra-1781521045",
        "date": "2026-06-15 17:28:06",
        "title": "KAI Group Transports 2.3 Million Passengers and 11 Million Tonnes of Logistics in South Sumatra",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Infrastructure",
        "summary": "PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Group reported transporting 2.3 million passengers and 11.66 million tonnes of cargo in South Sumatra during the first half of 2026. The figures highlight the strategic role of rail in regional connectivity, with LRT Sumsel serving 1.8 million passengers and freight services moving key commodities like coal and fuel. KAI emphasised the century-old rail network's continued importance in supporting economic efficiency and national connectivity goals.",
        "content": "<p>The rail network in South Sumatra has a long history as a connector\nfor communities and the regional economy. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI)\nGroup transported 2,315,580 passengers and 11.66 million tonnes of\nlogistics in South Sumatra during January to June 2026, demonstrating\nthe strategic role of rail transport in supporting mobility and goods\ndistribution. \u2018KAI Group\u2019s rail-based passenger services in South\nSumatra served 2,315,580 customers, and the freight services of Division\nIII Palembang reached 11.66 million tonnes of commodities,\u2019 said KAI\nVice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba in a statement in\nJakarta on Monday. She conveyed that KAI has received direction from\nPresident Prabowo Subianto to strengthen national connectivity through\nrail-based transport. This mode plays an important role in opening\npublic access, facilitating the distribution of goods, and connecting\nregional growth centres. In South Sumatra, this role has grown for more\nthan a century through a rail network connecting Palembang, Prabumulih,\nMuara Enim, Lahat, Lubuklinggau, and Lampung. Anne stated that the\nhistory of railways in South Sumatra shows that from the beginning,\nrails were present as a link between city centres, inland areas,\nproduction zones, and ports. \u2018This role continues in KAI Group\u2019s current\nservices through passenger trains, freight services, and the South\nSumatra LRT, which serves access to the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II\nAirport area,\u2019 Anne explained. The history of railways in South Sumatra\nbegan in 1914 during the Dutch colonial period. The network was built by\nZuid-Sumatra Staatsspoorwegen (ZSS) with the aim of connecting Panjang\nPort in Lampung with the interior regions of South Sumatra to support\nthe mobility of agricultural products, forest products, and natural\nresources, including coal. The next important phase occurred on 1\nNovember 1915, when the 78 km Kertapati\u2013Prabumulih line was opened.\nKertapati Station later developed into one of the main railway hubs in\nPalembang, while Prabumulih became a crucial junction connecting lines\nto Lampung, Muara Enim, Lahat, and Lubuklinggau. Line construction\ncontinued to expand, reaching mining areas and economic centres in South\nSumatra. The Prabumulih\u2013Gunung Megang line began operating in 1916,\nlater extended to Muara Enim and Tanjung Enim. Afterwards, line\ndevelopment continued to Lahat, Tebing Tinggi, Muara Saling, and finally\nLubuklinggau in 1933. After independence, the rail network previously\nmanaged by the colonial government was taken over by the Indonesian\nnation through the Djawatan Kereta Api. Over time, the line has remained\nan important part of citizen mobility, commodity distribution, and\ninter-regional connectivity in southern Sumatra. In the modern era, the\nrole of rail in South Sumatra has become increasingly diverse. KAI\nserves passenger journeys through the KA Sindang Marga on the\nKertapati\u2013Lubuklinggau round trip, KA Bukit Serelo on the\nKertapati\u2013Lubuklinggau round trip, and KA Rajabasa on the\nKertapati\u2013Tanjungkarang round trip. During January\u2013May 2026, Division\nIII Palembang\u2019s passenger train services served 500,563 customers. Urban\nservices are also an important part of rail connectivity in South\nSumatra. Through the South Sumatra LRT, KAI Group connects the public to\nvarious activity points in Palembang, including the Sultan Mahmud\nBadaruddin II Airport area. During January\u2013May 2026, the South Sumatra\nLRT served 1,815,017 customers. Thus, the total rail-based passenger\nservices of KAI Group in South Sumatra reached 2,315,580 customers. On\nthe freight side, rail has a strategic role in maintaining the smooth\ndistribution of key commodities. During January\u2013May 2026, Division III\nPalembang\u2019s freight services reached 11.66 million tonnes of\ncommodities. The commodities served include coal, fuel oil, pulp, and\nother commodities supporting industrial and regional economic\nactivities. The large volume of freight services demonstrates the\nimportance of railways in the logistics ecosystem of southern Sumatra.\nWith large capacity, planned schedules, and connections to production\ncentres and ports, railways help reduce distribution costs per tonne.\nThis efficiency provides room for businesses to maintain supply\nsmoothness, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and encourage more\ncontrolled goods prices for the public. Anne explained that the strength\nof railways in South Sumatra lies in the combination of a long history,\na network connected to economic activity centres, and the continuously\ngrowing mobility needs of the community. With lines connected to city\ncentres, energy hubs, ports, and airport services, rail has great\npotential to strengthen public mobility while supporting goods\ndistribution in southern Sumatra. \u2018The rail in South Sumatra has a long\nhistory as a connector of communities and the regional economy. With\nlarge capacity and a network connected to production nodes, railways\nhelp logistics become more efficient, maintain supply, and support more\ncontrolled prices,\u2019 she said. KAI Group will continue to strengthen the\nrole of railways in South Sumatra in line with the direction of national\nconnectivity development. \u2018With a strong history and continuously\ngrowing mobility needs, rail in South Sumatra is an important part of\nconnecting communities, economic areas, service centres, and main\ntransport hubs,\u2019 Anne concluded.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kai-group-transports-2-3-million-passengers-and-11-million-tonnes-of-logistics-in-south-sumatra-1781521045",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}