Rail Passenger Volume in Sumatra Rises 11.35% in First Half of 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) served 3.82 million passengers on long-distance and local train services across its four regional divisions in Sumatra during the first half of 2026. This figure represents an 11.35% increase compared to the 3.43 million passengers recorded in the same period of 2025.

Vice President of Corporate Communication KAI, Anne Purba, stated that the growth reflects the strong public demand for rail-based travel to support work, education, trade, and family visits. “The railway has become an integral part of community activities, and each region has distinct travel characteristics that must be served with a focus on safety, punctuality, and comfort,” she said.

All four divisions recorded increases. Divre I North Sumatra served 1.39 million passengers, a 4.7% rise. Divre II West Sumatra recorded the highest growth, a 17.6% jump to 1.14 million passengers, with services connecting Padang, educational institutions, business centres, Minangkabau International Airport, and tourist destinations. Divre III Palembang saw a 10.8% increase to 603,967 passengers, while Divre IV Tanjungkarang recorded a 16.7% rise to 681,352 passengers.

The 11.35% growth in Sumatra exceeded the national increase of 8.7% for KAI’s long-distance and local services, which rose from 27.46 million to 29.86 million passengers. Anne Purba stressed that this growth must be matched by improvements in capacity management, fleet readiness, infrastructure reliability, staff competency, cleanliness, and clear passenger information.

President Prabowo Subianto has identified railway development as a national priority, directing the planning of the Trans-Sumatra Railway alongside networks in Kalimantan and Sulawesi. KAI views its operational data as a crucial resource for understanding travel patterns and ensuring that safety, infrastructure, and service standards keep pace with expansion.