Nearly One Million Passengers Utilise Face Recognition Boarding Gate in Semarang's Operational Area 4

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Operational Area 4 Semarang recorded that 945,189 long-distance train passengers had utilised the Face Recognition Boarding Gate service up to July 2026. This figure represents an increase of 35,810 passengers, or approximately 3.9 per cent, compared to the same period in 2025, which recorded 909,379 passengers. This increase demonstrates the growing trust and enthusiasm of passengers for digital-based boarding services that offer a faster, easier, and more practical departure process. Through facial recognition technology, passengers who have registered simply need to scan their faces for identity verification without having to show physical documents or print a boarding pass. In addition to providing convenience in the travel process, the utilisation of the Face Recognition Boarding Gate also supports operational efficiency efforts and the application of environmental sustainability principles. From January to July 2026, the use of this service has helped reduce the need for paper boarding passes, thereby helping to reduce resource use and operational costs. KAI Operational Area 4 Semarang Public Relations Manager, Luqman Arif, stated that the digital transformation continuously carried out by KAI aims to deliver an increasingly comfortable travel experience while supporting more effective and environmentally friendly operations. ‘The Face Recognition Boarding Gate is one of the innovations that provides real convenience for passengers. The boarding process becomes faster and more practical, while on the other hand, paper usage can be significantly reduced. The more passengers who utilise this service, the greater the efficiency benefits and positive impact generated,’ said Luqman. ‘Every passenger who chooses digital boarding becomes part of the effort to create more sustainable transportation services. In addition to speeding up the service flow at stations, the use of this technology also helps reduce material consumption gradually and continuously,’ added Luqman. Based on data up to July 2026, Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng Station was the station with the highest number of Face Recognition Boarding Gate users in the Operational Area 4 Semarang region, reaching 434,079 passengers. This was followed by Semarang Poncol Station with 238,905 passengers, Tegal Station with 148,274 passengers, and Pekalongan Station with 123,931 passengers. KAI Operational Area 4 Semarang will continue to optimise the use of digital technology to improve service quality for passengers. The development of technology-based services is part of the company’s commitment to providing safe, comfortable, efficient, and sustainable transportation. ‘Digitalisation not only provides convenience for passengers but also delivers broader benefits for the environment and company operations. Through innovations such as the Face Recognition Boarding Gate, KAI continues to strive to present future transportation services that are increasingly modern and oriented towards passenger needs,’ concluded Luqman.