West Sumatra Power Outage: Railway Operations Remain Normal and On Time
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Regional Division II West Sumatra has confirmed that all railway operations in its area continue to run normally. Despite a widespread power outage affecting most of the province from Friday night until Sunday (24 May), the public transport service remained safe and on schedule.
Reza Shahab, Head of Public Relations for KAI Regional Division II West Sumatra, stated that external power supply disruptions from PLN did not hinder railway operations or customer services at various stations.
“Despite the power outage from Friday (22 May) at 6:45 PM WIB until Saturday morning, train services during and after the blackout operated on schedule with no significant disruptions,” said Reza.
To ensure operational continuity, KAI Regional Division II West Sumatra deployed and operated backup diesel generators at strategic locations. This preventive measure, supported by a supply of High Speed Diesel (HSD) fuel, ensured the backup power plants functioned optimally during the outage.
The backup generators were used to support critical needs, including:
Services at major stations such as Padang, Pariaman, Duku, Tabing, Kayutanam, and Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) stations operated smoothly.
“During the outage, it takes a few moments for the generators to fully activate and supply power. We apologise for any inconvenience experienced by customers during this transition,” Reza added.
By Saturday morning, power supply at various stations had gradually returned to normal. However, KAI Regional Division II West Sumatra continues to maintain close communication with PLN to monitor electricity conditions and anticipate further disruptions.
Reza urged the public and passengers to remain calm and not worry when planning rail travel. KAI is committed to prioritising passenger safety, security, and comfort under any circumstances.
“We encourage the public to continue trusting rail transport as a safe, comfortable, and reliable mode. All services in West Sumatra are operating optimally,” he concluded.
The Bareskrim Police’s Dittipidter team discovered a broken Sutet conductor at point 175-176 in Tempino, Jambi. The investigation into the cause of the widespread blackout in Sumatra continues.
PT PLN (Persero) has restored Sumatra’s power system following the transmission disruption. A total of 176 main substations have resumed normal operations.
PLN confirmed the widespread power outage in Sumatra was caused by severe weather disrupting transmission lines. Power restoration efforts are ongoing in stages.