KAI Reactivates Plabuan and Comal Stations, Expanding Public Travel Access on the North Coast Route

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) will resume serving passenger boarding and alighting at Plabuan Station in Batang Regency and Comal Station, which is administratively in Pemalang Regency, starting 27 April 2026. This operation expands the railway service points along Java’s north coast route while bringing travel access closer to the public. In the initial phase, both stations will serve the Kaligung, Kamandaka, and Joglosemarkerto train services. This service opens connectivity to various cities such as Semarang, Tegal, Purwokerto, and Yogyakarta within an integrated travel network. KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba stated that this reactivation follows the increasing public mobility in the North Coast region. “The operation of Plabuan and Comal Stations expands the reach of railway services to be even closer to the public. With more departure points, travel becomes more practical and supports the daily activities of the community,” said Anne. This is evident from the trend at Batang Station, the nearest station to Plabuan. From January to March 2026, the number of boarding passengers reached 14,005, an increase of 46.27% compared to the same period in 2025 with 9,575 passengers. For alighting passengers, there were 14,973, a growth of 37.61% from the previous 10,874 passengers. This increase reflects the increasingly active mobility of the public, both for work, education, and other economic activities. With the reactivation of Plabuan Station, travel access becomes closer, and passenger distribution in the Batang area can be more even. In Pemalang Regency, service strengthening is also supported by the performance of Pemalang Station as the main station in the area. From January to March 2026, the number of boarding passengers reached 91,998, an increase of 37.66% compared to the same period in 2025 with 66,834 passengers. For alighting passengers, there were 92,491, a growth of 23.59% from the previous 74,844 passengers. Additionally, Pekalongan Station in the surrounding area also recorded an increase. In the same period, boarding passengers reached 176,230, a growth of 24.17% compared to the previous year with 141,922 passengers. Meanwhile, alighting passengers were recorded at 179,077, an increase of 15.88% from 154,543 passengers. This series of data shows that the Batang, Pemalang, to Pekalongan areas have developing travel activities. With the return of Comal Station in Pemalang Regency, the public has a closer alternative access while helping passenger distribution on that route. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released on 5 February 2026 in the regional economic growth publication indicates that Batang Regency recorded economic growth of around 5.2% and Pekalongan Regency around 5.1% in 2025. This growth is supported by the processing industry, trade, and services sectors, which go hand in hand with increasing public mobility needs. Closer transportation access provides space for the public to move more efficiently. Local economic activities also develop through smoother people movement, including UMKM actors, workers, and the tourism sector in the surrounding areas. Anne added that this service will continue to be monitored to see the public response. “KAI will conduct periodic evaluations by looking at passenger number developments. Services will continue to be adjusted to remain in line with public needs,” Anne concluded.