1.39 Million Customers Served in North Sumatra, Railways Prepare to Connect Aceh

Services that have been operating in Regional Division I North Sumatra, as well as the rolling stock maintenance capabilities at Balai Yasa Pulubrayan, Medan, continue to be strengthened. This strengthening is necessary to maintain current public services while also preparing data and technical support for the study of the development of North Sumatra–Aceh railway connectivity.

The development of this connectivity still requires a comprehensive study and government decision. The study needs to consider public travel needs, economic potential, safety, infrastructure readiness, operational patterns, spatial planning, environmental and social impacts, financing, as well as its integration with existing operating networks.

Vice President Corporate Communication of KAI, Anne Purba, explained that KAI is ready to support the process in accordance with the authority and assignments given by the government. According to her, the North Sumatra–Aceh connectivity is still in the study process, and KAI can provide support in the form of operational data, rolling stock requirements, service projections, and technical capabilities. While the process is ongoing, KAI’s priority is to ensure that services currently used by the public in North Sumatra remain safe and reliable.

Currently, the Divre I North Sumatra region has 476.460 kilometers of active track and 43 active stations spread across 13 regencies/cities. This network serves public travel and freight distribution to various areas, including Binjai, Tebing Tinggi, Pematangsiantar, Kisaran, Tanjungbalai, Rantauprapat, Belawan, Kuala Tanjung, and Kualanamu. The existence of an active network provides initial data to understand travel patterns, demand centers, operational needs, as well as the potential for integration with ports, airports, industrial areas, plantation centers, and regional economic hubs.

Throughout Semester I 2026, KAI Divre I North Sumatra served 1,391,120 customers, growing by around 5 percent compared to Semester I 2025 with 1,328,372 customers. On a monthly basis, KAI served 233,133 customers in January, 200,042 customers in February, 265,081 customers in March, 221,254 customers in April, 235,824 customers in May, and 235,786 customers in June 2026.

Growth was seen on several main routes. Sribilah Utama Train and Sribilah Fakultatif Train on the Medan–Rantauprapat round-trip route served 419,637 customers, an increase of 8 percent compared to Semester I 2025 with 387,459 customers. Putri Deli Train on the Medan–Tanjungbalai round-trip route served 649,892 customers, growing by 2 percent compared to 639,839 customers. Meanwhile, Siantar Ekspres Train on the Medan–Pematangsiantar round-trip route served 272,759 customers, increasing by 9 percent compared to 251,088 customers. These three services accounted for around 96.5 percent of the total customers of Divre I North Sumatra in Semester I 2026, indicating strong travel demand between Medan and activity centers on the eastern side of North Sumatra.

Anne added that customer growth is important data in planning capacity and service patterns. Every network development plan must be prepared based on public needs, operational feasibility, and the economic and social benefits that can be generated.

Operational readiness in North Sumatra is supported by Balai Yasa Pulubrayan, which has been carrying out rolling stock maintenance functions since 1915. For more than a century, this facility has handled heavy maintenance of locomotives, passenger cars, power generator cars, freight wagons, and special equipment. In Semester I 2026, Balai Yasa Pulubrayan completed heavy maintenance on five locomotives, 18 passenger cars, 102 freight wagons, three power generator cars, and one special equipment unit. A total of 129 rolling stock units reached 100 percent of the Semester I 2026 maintenance program.

Maintenance is carried out based on cycles of 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, up to 72 months according to the type and technical provisions of each rolling stock. The work includes inspection and repair of engines, structures, braking systems, wheelsets, bogies, electrical systems, interiors, and functional testing before the rolling stock is reused. Balai Yasa Pulubrayan also carried out modifications of two ex-conservation cars into rescue cars, including structural adjustments, electrical installation, partitions, ceilings, ventilation, and supporting equipment to assist in handling emergency conditions on the track.

Anne stated that Balai Yasa Pulubrayan maintains the availability of rolling stock for passenger and freight services in North Sumatra. This maintenance capacity needs to be maintained and gradually developed in line with operational needs and government policy directions.

The reliability of rolling stock also supports services during the school holiday period. From June 20 to July 5, 2026, railway services in the Divre I North Sumatra area recorded 141,799 customers. Of this number, Medan Station served 49,403 departing customers and 51,374 arriving customers.

For the 30 percent transportation discount program in North Sumatra, the promotion was applied to Sribilah Fakultatif Train on the Medan–Rantauprapat round-trip route. During the school holiday period, Sribilah Fakultatif Train served 9,044 customers, and all customers on that journey received a 30 percent discount. Anne stated that the utilization of the Sribilah Fakultatif Train promotion shows strong travel demand between Medan and Rantauprapat, and service programs like this must continue to be supported by the readiness of rolling stock, personnel, stations, and proper travel arrangements.

Nationally, the transportation discount program during the school holiday period was utilized by 1,303,191 customers, an increase of around 11 percent compared to the 2025 program period with 1,173,612 customers. Total KAI services during the period of June 20 to July 5, 2026 reached 3,451,031 customers or grew by around 4 percent compared to the previous period.

KAI will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Transportation, regional governments, and relevant stakeholders in providing data and technical input for the study of North Sumatra–Aceh connectivity. There has been no decision on construction or operation schedule as all stages still depend on the results of the study and government policy. Anne emphasized that KAI maintains services in North Sumatra to remain reliable while preparing technical capabilities to support government policies. If the study results lead to the development of connectivity to Aceh, KAI is ready to carry out its role in accordance with the authority and assignments given.