KAI Daop 8 Confirms Railway Line in Sidoarjo's Lapindo Mud Area Is Safe

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Operational Region (Daop) 8 Surabaya has assured that the condition of the railway line located in the Lapindo mud embankment area, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, is safe to traverse.

“All train journeys crossing that line remain operating normally, prioritising aspects of safety, security and customer service,” said Mahendro Trang Bawono, Public Relations Manager of KAI Daop 8 Surabaya, in Surabaya on Friday (10/7).

According to him, PT KAI carried out direct inspections of the railway infrastructure after receiving information about work activities in the Lapindo mud embankment area.

“The results of our officers’ inspection in the field show that the condition of the track, the rail construction and other supporting infrastructure remain safe and unaffected. All train journeys continue to run normally according to the operational schedule,” said Mahendro.

Mahendro explained that the situation occurring in the Lapindo mud embankment area is part of embankment strengthening works being carried out by PPLS on Friday (10/7). During the process, heavy equipment dredged mud material to be placed on the upper part of the embankment as a means of raising it. While the process was under way, he said, some of the mud material overflowed from the top of the embankment, but it did not affect the railway line.

“We ensure that this activity has no impact on train operations. The railway line is in a safe condition to traverse, so the public need not worry about the safety of train journeys passing through the area,” Mahendro added.

Furthermore, he said, KAI Daop 8 continues to maintain coordination with the relevant parties in order to obtain the latest information regarding the work being carried out in the Lapindo mud embankment area. This coordination forms part of anticipatory measures so that every development in the field can be monitored optimally without disrupting the safety of train journeys.

Each day, around 48 train journeys pass through the line in the Lapindo mud embankment area, comprising long-distance trains, local trains and freight trains. All of these journeys remain operating normally to date, with no speed restrictions, changes to operating patterns, or schedule adjustments as a result of the work activities around the embankment.