From Nagreg to Siantar, 10 High-Elevation Stations with Unique Railway Journeys

Ever wondered what it is like to travel by train through mountainous landscapes, with stations hundreds of metres above sea level? Across Java and Sumatra, several railway stations stand out for their geographical characteristics while continuing to serve passengers today.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), or KAI, recorded passenger boarding and alighting activities at ten high-elevation stations across the two islands. From Nagreg Station in West Java, at 848 metres above sea level (masl), to Lubuk Linggau Station in Sumatra, at 130 masl, each station serves routes with distinct landscapes and travel patterns.

In Java, the five highest-elevation stations on the list are Nagreg (848 masl), Cipeundeuy (772 masl), Cimindi (736 masl), Cimahi (723 masl), and Garut (717 masl). In Sumatra, the stations are Siantar (383.47 masl), Baja Linggei (284.20 masl), Dolok Merangir (144.56 masl), Kayutanam (144 masl), and Lubuk Linggau (130 masl).

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba explained that the elevations displayed on station signs reflect the varied geography along Indonesia’s railway network. Trains travel through both lowlands and mountainous areas, each presenting different track conditions. Despite their locations, these stations continue to support a range of passenger needs, from daily commutes to intercity journeys.

From Nagreg to Garut, passenger activity takes different forms

Nagreg Station ranks highest on the list, at 848 masl. From January to September 2026, it recorded 42,566 Commuter Line Area II Bandung passenger activities, comprising 26,712 boardings and 15,854 alightings.

Cipeundeuy Station, at 772 masl, recorded 38,524 long-distance train passenger activities, including 20,009 boardings and 18,515 alightings. The station has a distinctive operational role, as trains passing through it undergo inspections before continuing along the mountainous route.

Passenger activity was considerably higher at Cimindi Station. Located at 736 masl, it recorded 874,522 Commuter Line activities during the first nine months of 2026, comprising 460,122 gate-ins and 414,400 gate-outs. Cimindi is one of the Commuter Line service points in the Greater Bandung area.

At 723 masl, Cimahi Station recorded 1,400,263 passenger boarding and alighting activities, the highest volume among the five highest-elevation stations in Java on this list. The total comprised 298,903 long-distance train passenger activities, including 154,984 boardings and 143,919 alightings, as well as 1,101,360 Commuter Line Area II Bandung activities, consisting of 551,062 gate-ins and 550,298 gate-outs.

Garut Station, at 717 masl, recorded 746,601 passenger activities. These included 330,612 long-distance train passenger activities, comprising 169,081 boardings and 161,531 alightings, alongside 415,989 Commuter Line activities, with 211,551 gate-ins and 204,438 gate-outs. Rail services returned to Garut after the Cibatu–Garut line was reactivated and officially inaugurated on March 24, 2022.

From North Sumatra to West Sumatra

In Sumatra, Siantar Station is the highest-elevation station on the list, at 383.47 masl. From January to September 2026, it recorded 279,492 passenger activities, comprising 141,672 boardings and 137,820 alightings. Siantar is one of the main stations served by KA Siantar Ekspres in North Sumatra.

Along the same KA Siantar Ekspres corridor, Baja Linggei Station, at 284.20 masl, recorded 5,071 passenger activities, including 2,714 boardings and 2,357 alightings. Dolok Merangir Station, at 144.56 masl, recorded 17,344 activities, comprising 9,238 boardings and 8,106 alightings.

In West Sumatra, Kayutanam Station sits at 144 masl and recorded 113,210 passenger activities, consisting of 54,156 boardings and 59,054 alightings. The station is served by KA Lembah Anai and has a historical connection to the mountainous railway route towards Padang Panjang, which uses a rack railway system.

Meanwhile, Lubuk Linggau Station, at 130 masl, is the highest-elevation station in KAI Regional Division III Palembang. It recorded 380,481 passenger activities from January to September 2026, comprising 192,460 boardings and 188,021 alightings. The station serves KA Bukit Serelo and KA Sindang Marga.

Together, the ten stations recorded 3,898,074 passenger boarding and alighting activities from January to September 2026. The figures reflect different mobility patterns across the network. Cimahi and Cimindi are closely linked to travel within Greater Bandung, while Garut and Lubuk Linggau serve intercity and regional journeys. Nagreg, Cipeundeuy, Siantar, Baja Linggei, Dolok Merangir, and Kayutanam serve communities along routes with distinct geographical characteristics.

Anne added that each station has its own story, shaped by its geography, history, and passenger travel patterns. From Nagreg at 848 metres to Lubuk Linggau at 130 metres above sea level, the figures show how stations along high-elevation routes continue to play a role in people’s daily mobility.