School Holidays Arrive, Thousands of Families in North Sumatra Flock to Train Stations

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Regional Division I North Sumatra recorded an increase in passenger volume on the first day of the even-semester school holiday period for the 2025/2026 academic year. As of Saturday (20/6), a total of 7,725 train tickets had been sold for various destinations across North Sumatra. Manager of Public Relations for KAI Divre I North Sumatra, Anwar Yuli Prastyo, said that of the total tickets sold on the first day, 830 were passengers on the Sribilah Fakultatif train serving the Medan–Rantauprapat round-trip route. Passengers on this route had the opportunity to enjoy a special price thanks to a 30 per cent discount provided by the government through the Ministry of Transportation as an economic stimulus. “Today we have already seen an increase in passengers, likely because many educational institutions have completed their teaching and learning activities for the even semester and children are now on holiday,” Anwar said on Saturday. To anticipate high public demand during the class promotion holiday period from 20 June to 5 July 2026, KAI Divre I North Sumatra has increased total seating capacity to 130,040 seats, up by 1,256 seats from the previous capacity of 128,784 seats. As of Saturday afternoon, total ticket sales for the entire holiday period had reached 45,252 tickets. Anwar stressed that this figure remains highly dynamic and is predicted to rise sharply closer to departure dates. The capacity increase was achieved through fleet additions, namely one economy-class carriage on the Sribilah Fakultatif train and one business-class carriage on the Sribilah Utama train, both serving the Medan–Rantauprapat round-trip route. “Of the 22 train journeys operated today, 11 have sold 100 per cent of tickets, comprising six Putri Deli services, four Siantar Ekspres services, and one Sribilah Utama service. KAI Divre I North Sumatra urges customers who miss out on their preferred schedule to use other train services where tickets are still available,” he added. Amid the increase in train users, KAI Divre I North Sumatra also reiterated a warning to all customers not to smoke inside the train carriages. This rule refers to existing regulations, specifically Article 151 paragraph (1) of Law Number 17 of 2023 on Health. The law stipulates that public transport, including trains, is an area that must be free from cigarette smoke. “The smoking ban is not limited to conventional cigarettes but also includes electronic cigarettes. Prohibiting smoking in public spaces creates an inclusive environment by ensuring everyone’s right to breathe clean and healthy air,” he stressed. KAI Divre I North Sumatra is fully committed to overseeing this school holiday momentum by prioritising passenger safety, security, and comfort. Through increased seating capacity and strict supervision of public facility regulations, KAI hopes that train transport will continue to be the primary safe and child-friendly choice for families in North Sumatra to spend their holiday period.