KAI North Sumatra Ensures Train Services Continue Normally Despite Widespread Power Outages

PT Kereta Api Indonesia, Divisi Regional I North Sumatra, has ensured that all railway travel operations in North Sumatra continue to run safely and normally following a mass power outage affecting almost the entire province since Friday night. Anwar Yuli Prastyo, Public Relations Manager of KAI Divre I North Sumatra, stressed that the electricity outage disruption by the energy supplier did not affect the train timetable, for both departures and arrivals. “Despite the outage, the KA operations in North Sumatra remain safe. For departures and arrivals after the outage on Friday (22 May) from 18:44 WIB to Saturday (23 May) 07:30 WIB, all KA journeys ran exactly in accordance with the predetermined schedule,” Anwar said in a statement received on Saturday (23 May). He added that passenger train services at major stations such as Medan Station, Tanjungbalai Station, Siantar Station, and Rantauprapat Station continued to be accommodated well without delays. As an anticipatory measure against emergencies and recognising that electricity is a crucial energy need, KAI Divre I Sumut has mobilised a backup power generation system (genset). This facility functions to supply energy to communications equipment, signalling systems, and direct customer service needs at station areas. “During a blackout, the generator requires some time to start up and generate electricity, which is then channelled to needs such as lighting, air conditioning, and others. KAI Divre I North Sumatra offers apologies to railway customers who experience discomfort during the energy source transition,” added Anwar. In addition to conventional backup generators, the reliability of KAI’s electrical system in this region is also supported by renewable energy innovations. Specifically at Medan Station, KAI has operated a Solar Power Plant (PLTS). The solar panels actively generate energy for daytime operations and also recharge reserve batteries that can be supplied during night-time power outages. By Saturday (23/5) 08:00 WIB, electrical power at several stations had returned to normal, although some stations were still experiencing outages. KAI Divre I North Sumatra remains fully committed that this dynamic situation will not reduce service quality to customers or compromise the safety of train travel. “For North Sumatra residents who have planned train travel today, there is no need to worry. KAI Divre I North Sumatra assures that all trains are still operating normally with a commitment to service quality and safety that remains maximum,” said Anwar.