Exploring Sumatra Gets Easier, as KAI Strengthens Interregional Rail Connectivity

Activities across Sumatra continue to grow, bringing new mobility needs for communities across the island. From business and education to trade, tourism, and everyday travel, people are increasingly looking for convenient and reliable connections between cities and regions.

Responding to these evolving needs, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), or KAI, continues to strengthen its railway services across Sumatra. Service development is tailored to travel patterns and the unique characteristics of each region, ensuring rail travel remains relevant to customers’ changing mobility needs.

One service reflecting the growing demand for rail travel is KA Rajabasa, serving the Kertapati–Tanjungkarang round trip route. From January to July 2026, KA Rajabasa served 534,748 customers, marking a 32.09% increase from the 404,848 customers recorded during the same period in 2025.

KA Rajabasa connects Kertapati Station in Palembang, South Sumatra, with Tanjungkarang Station in Bandar Lampung, Lampung. The service supports mobility between two regions with diverse activities, ranging from business and education to trade and tourism.

As demand continues to rise, KAI is also stepping up capacity. Starting in July 2026, KA Rajabasa began operating with a larger train formation, increasing its capacity from 530 to 848 seats.

The additional capacity gives more customers the opportunity to travel between South Sumatra and Lampung while supporting KAI’s efforts to keep pace with growing mobility demand across the region.

This mobility trend also comes alongside Indonesia’s broader economic growth. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded 5.61% year-on-year economic growth in the first quarter of 2026.

In its publication Gross Regional Domestic Product of Provinces in Indonesia by Industry 2021–2025, released on April 13, 2026, BPS highlighted the contribution of sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, trade, transportation, and warehousing to regional economic activity.

With economic and social activities continuing to develop across different parts of Sumatra, the need for seamless interregional mobility is becoming increasingly important. Railways are one of the transportation options supporting this movement while connecting communities with key destinations across the island.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said the growth in KA Rajabasa customers reflects the increasing demand for rail-based mobility across Sumatra.

The growth of KA Rajabasa shows that travel needs across Sumatra continue to evolve. KAI continues to understand the characteristics of each region so that our services can better match customer needs.

According to Anne, strengthening rail connectivity is not simply about increasing capacity, but also about understanding how people travel in each region.

Railways play an important role in connecting people with various activities. That is why service development needs to consider the needs of each region and the travel patterns of our customers.

Sumatra’s growing mobility is a positive sign for stronger interregional connectivity. KAI continues to enhance its railway services to make journeys easier, more connected, and more relevant to the way people move today.

Whether it is for work, education, business, or a weekend getaway, exploring Sumatra is becoming easier with rail connectivity.