KAI Introduces Vintage Locomotive Livery from the 1953–1991 Era
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) has reintroduced the locomotive livery used during the 1953–1991 era on three CC 202 series locomotives.
The launch of the CC 202 series locomotives featuring the vintage livery was held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Long Coal Train (Babaranjang) operations, which was celebrated on 1 October 2021.
"Today, we are launching the Vintage Livery on three CC 202 series locomotives owned by KAI. The Vintage Livery has been applied to these three locomotives because pulling a Babaranjang train consisting of 60 freight wagons requires three CC 202 series locomotives," said KAI Operations Director Heru Kuswanto during the inauguration at Tanjung Karang Station, Bandar Lampung, on Thursday (14/10).
The return of the vintage livery on the Babaranjang train is the result of a collaboration between KAI and railway enthusiast communities, namely the Indonesian Railway Preservation Society and the South Sumatra Railway Enthusiasts Organization.
The Babaranjang train is an inseparable part of KAI's history. On 1 October 1986, the Babaranjang train began transporting coal over a distance of 409 km from Tanjung Enim Baru Station in South Sumatra to Tarahan Station in Lampung.
Through the Babaranjang train, KAI contributes to the smooth distribution of national logistics by providing environmentally friendly mass freight transportation while also supporting national energy security, as the transported coal is used to generate electricity for the islands of Java, Madura, and Bali.
Today, coal transportation remains KAI's primary freight business, accounting for 77.5% of the company's total freight volume. Coal transportation has continued to grow, with KAI transporting 28.84 million tons of coal from January to September 2021, an increase of 17.7% compared to 24.49 million tons during the same period in 2020.
The Vintage Livery has been applied to locomotives CC 202 08 07, CC 202 86 09, and CC 202 90 02. The repainting work was carried out at the UPT Balai Yasa Lahat workshop in South Sumatra. The CC 202 series locomotives weigh 108 tons, are powered by a 2,250-horsepower diesel engine, and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h.
The launch of the Vintage Livery locomotives is also part of the series of events commemorating KAI's 76th anniversary, which was celebrated on 28 September.
"The use of the Vintage Livery on the Babaranjang train is expected to remind us of the memories of the past while inspiring us to continue KAI's legacy of excellence in the years to come," Heru concluded. (Public Relations KAI)