KAI Reactivates Plabuan and Comal Stations, Expanding Public Travel Access along Java’s Northern Coast Corridor

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) will resume serving passenger boarding and alighting at Plabuan Station in Batang Regency and Comal Station, administratively located in Pemalang Regency, starting April 27, 2026. This operation expands railway service points along the northern coastal route of Java while bringing travel access closer to the community. 

In the initial phase, both stations will serve the Kaligung, Kamandaka, and Joglosemarkerto trains. This service opens connectivity to various cities such as Semarang, Tegal, Purwokerto, and Yogyakarta within an interconnected travel network. 

Vice President of Corporate Communication at KAI, Anne Purba, stated that this resumption aligns with the continuously increasing public mobility across the northern coastal region (Pantura). 

"The operation of Plabuan and Comal Stations expands the reach of railway services to be closer to the community. With more departure points, travel becomes more practical and supports daily community activities," Anne said. 

This trend is evident from the figures at Batang Station, which serves as the closest station to Plabuan. From January to March 2026, boarding passengers reached 14,005, a 46.27% increase compared to 9,575 passengers during the same period in 2025. Alighting passengers were recorded at 14,973, growing 37.61% from the previous 10,874 passengers. 

This increase reflects a more active community mobility, whether for work, education, or other economic activities. With the reactivation of Plabuan Station, travel access becomes closer and passenger distribution across the Batang region can be more evenly spread. 

In Pemalang Regency, service enhancement is also supported by the performance of Pemalang Station as the primary station in the area. Throughout January to March 2026, boarding passengers reached 91,998, increasing by 37.66% compared to 66,834 passengers in the same period in 2025. Alighting passengers reached 92,491, growing 23.59% from the previous 74,844 passengers. 

Additionally, Pekalongan Station in the surrounding area also recorded growth. During the same period, boarding passengers reached 176,230, growing 24.17% compared to 141,922 passengers the previous year. Meanwhile, alighting passengers were recorded at 179,077, increasing 15.88% from 154,543 passengers. 

These data series indicate that the Batang, Pemalang, and Pekalongan regions experience continuously growing travel activity. With the return of Comal Station in Pemalang Regency, the public gains closer alternative access while helping distribute passenger flow along the corridor. 

Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) data released on February 5, 2026, in the regional economic growth publication showed that Batang Regency recorded economic growth of around 5.2% and Pekalongan Regency around 5.1% in 2025. This growth is driven by the manufacturing, trade, and services sectors, which run parallel to the increasing public mobility needs. 

Closer transportation access provides space for the community to move more efficiently. Local economic activity thrives through smoother passenger movement, encompassing MSME owners, workers, and the tourism sector in the surrounding areas. 

Anne added that this service will continue to be monitored to observe public response. 

"KAI will conduct regular evaluations by observing passenger volume growth. Services will continue to be adjusted to remain aligned with community needs," Anne concluded. 

VP Corporate Communication KAI