Looking Back on 156 Years of Indonesia's First Railway Journey

The city of Semarang holds a special place in Indonesia's railway history. Exactly 156 years ago, the country's first train journey departed from Semarang to Tanggung. To commemorate this historic milestone, KAI Regional Operation 4 (Daop 4) Semarang organized a joy ride aboard a train, covering the 25-kilometer route from Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng Station to Tanggung Station in Grobogan Regency on Thursday, 10 August 2023

The event was attended by 200 participants, including railway enthusiast communities, history communities, village elders from Tanggungharjo in Grobogan Regency, KAI employees, and retired railway personnel.

Wisnu Pramudyo, Executive Vice President of Daop 4 Semarang, explained that this year's theme, "156 Toward The Next Legacy," symbolizes 156 years as a milestone toward a lasting legacy for the future. He also emphasized the significance of Indonesia's first railway journey in shaping the nation's railway development. Without that inaugural trip, the progress of Indonesia's railway system as we know it today might never have been possible.

Revisiting history, Indonesia became the first country in Southeast Asia to operate a railway system.

"As the next generation of railway professionals, we should be grateful that railway transportation in Indonesia continues to progress. We hope rail transport will continue to grow each year and become the backbone of the nation's transportation system," he said.

A variety of activities enlivened the commemoration of Indonesia's first railway journey. These included a Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng–Tanggung round-trip joy ride using a locomotive with a vintage livery, a seminar on Indonesian railway history featuring Tjahjono Rahardjo, a historian from Semarang, as the keynote speaker, as well as a traditional tumpeng ceremony and a regional traditional costume celebration involving all participants.

The event also served as an opportunity to contribute to the surrounding community. Through its Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) program, KAI donated three water tanks (15,000 liters) of clean water to the Head of Tanggung Village in Tanggungharjo District, Grobogan Regency, as assistance for residents affected by the dry season and water shortages. The aid was expected to help ease the burden on the local community.

The celebration also featured a traditional costume fashion show, where participants proudly showcased regional traditional attire while walking along a catwalk set up at Tanggung Station.

The joy ride route passed through four of Indonesia's oldest railway stations:

Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng Station
Alastua Station
Brumbung Station
Tanggung Station

This railway line was officially opened on 10 August 1867 and became the first operational railway line in Indonesia.

The history of Indonesia's first railway began with the ceremonial groundbreaking conducted by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Mr. L.A.J. Baron Sloet van den Beele, in 1864. The 1,435 mm gauge railway line was constructed by the Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NISM) and completed on 10 August 1867. This achievement encouraged NISM to continue expanding the railway network to the Vorstenlanden region (Yogyakarta and Surakarta), a project completed in 1872.

As the birthplace of Indonesia's railway system, Semarang holds an invaluable place in the nation's railway history.

"We should take pride in commemorating this historic milestone. We hope it serves as a reminder of Indonesia's railway heritage while inspiring us to continue providing the best services and innovations for railway passengers in the future," Wisnu concluded.