International Seafarers' Day: Trains Become Part of Land Connectivity Around Ports

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) interprets World Seafarers' Day, celebrated every June 25th, as a moment to re-examine the relationship between sea and land in the lives of Indonesians. Established by the International Maritime Organization in 2010, this commemoration serves as a form of appreciation for seafarers who maintain the flow of trade, travel, and public needs via sea routes.

For Indonesia, sea and land are two travel spaces closely linked to people's lives. As an archipelagic nation with 17,380 islands, the movement of people and goods requires interconnected transportation. Ports serve as gateways for inter-island travel, while trains operate on the land side, providing mobility to cities, tourist destinations, production centers, industrial areas, and residential areas.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communications Anne Purba stated that World Seafarers' Day reminds us that Indonesia's connectivity is built on many roles. At sea, there are sailors, ship workers, and port personnel. On land, there are roads, terminals, stations, and train services that support travel and the distribution of goods.

"In an archipelagic country, travel often connects from sea to land, or from land to sea. Trains are present on the land portion of these journeys. Their role is close to the community, as they help customers reach cities, economic zones, tourist attractions, and other transportation hubs."

The presence of trains around port areas can be seen in several regions. In Banten, Merak Station is one of the travel points close to the Java-Sumatra crossing. Through the Merak Commuter Line service on the Rangkasbitung-Merak route, people can access the Merak area before continuing their journey by ferry.

KAI (Indonesian Railway Company) noted that the number of passengers on the Rangkasbitung route shows a consistent growth trend. In 2022, 43,317,716 customers were recorded, increasing to 62,085,471 customers in 2023, then 69,999,362 customers in 2024, and rising again to 77,552,716 customers in 2025. Meanwhile, from January to May 2026, the Rangkasbitung-Merak Commuter Line served 1,978,799 customers.

"In Merak, people can see how train travel meets ferry services. Customers can arrive from land areas, get off around Merak, and then continue their journey to the next island."

At the eastern tip of Java, Ketapang Station in Banyuwangi also exemplifies the close proximity of rail services and port areas. This station is close to Ketapang Port, which serves ferry services to Bali. From January to May 2026, Ketapang Station served 320,232 passengers.

The proximity of Ketapang Station and Ketapang Port makes inter-island travel easier to plan. Customers can take the train to Banyuwangi, then continue their journey to Bali via ferry services.

In Jakarta, the Tanjung Priok area serves as a hub for rail, port, residential areas, and the economic activities of the North Jakarta community. The Commuter Line service between Tanjung Priok and Jakarta Kota is an integral part of the mobility of residents in the area.

KAI (Indonesian Railway Company) noted that the Commuter Line service across Tanjung Priok continues to grow. Customer volume for this route reached 1,599,107 in 2022, increasing to 2,676,363 in 2023, then 3,377,633 in 2024, and reaching 3,531,311 in 2025. From January to May 2026, the Tanjung Priok route served 1,468,660 customers.

"In Tanjung Priok, trains are part of the daily mobility of urban residents. This service is used by customers for work, activities, accessing residential areas, and reaching areas close to the port and economic centers."

In Semarang, Semarang Tawang and Semarang Poncol Stations are two main customer service hubs in the port city, which is close to the Tanjung Emas area. According to KAI data, from January to May 2026, the two stations served 3,163,617 boarding and alighting customers. Specifically, Semarang Tawang Station served 1,736,897 boarding and alighting customers, while Semarang Poncol Station served 1,426,720 boarding and alighting customers.

These figures demonstrate that port cities also have significant land mobility needs. Semarang, located on the northern coast of Java, serves as a meeting point for intercity travel, education, tourism, trade, and coastal community activities.

In Central Java, Plabuan Station in Batang Regency began serving boarding and alighting customers in 2026. Based on April–May 2026 data, Plabuan Station served 398 boarding and alighting customers. The station's presence on the north coast of Java increases travel options for residents living in coastal areas.

In Lampung, Tanjungkarang Station serves as the main customer service hub in Bandar Lampung. From January–May 2026, the station served 322,451 boarding and alighting customers. In the same region, the Panjang and Tarahan Port areas are also important parts of the southern Sumatra logistics landscape, particularly supporting the distribution of commodities from production areas to distribution hubs.

The link between rail and port areas can also be seen in several other regions, such as Belawan in North Sumatra, Teluk Bayur in West Sumatra, the Tanjung Perak area in Surabaya, and Kalimas, known for its proximity to logistics activities in Surabaya. Each region has its own distinct characteristics, ranging from customer service, commodity movement, to support for industrial and trade activities.

In terms of freight services, KAI recorded a total volume of 26,486,417 tons of goods transported from January to May 2026. The largest commodity was coal, at 21,563,901 tons, followed by containers at 2,428,471 tons, fuel at 1,096,998 tons, cement and clinker at 977,983 tons, plantations at 268,728 tons, retail at 48,684 tons, and other commodities at 101,652 tons.

Anne explained that rail-based freight services are part of a land supply chain connected to numerous economic nodes. In practice, goods from production areas, terminals, ports, and distribution centers require onward travel to reach their destinations.

"In freight services, trains help provide large capacity and more measurable schedules. For businesses, certainty about schedules and capacity is crucial. For the public, smooth distribution also impacts the availability of goods and regional economic activity."

Overall, the KAI Group served 214,045,803 customers in January–May 2026, a 7.2 percent increase compared to the 199,663,907 customers in the same period in 2025. These figures demonstrate that rail-based transportation is increasingly meeting the needs of the community, from daily commutes, intercity travel, tourist trips, to connecting trips to other transportation hubs.

Anne added that World Seafarers Day also serves as a reminder that Indonesia's connectivity is achieved through the work of many parties. Seafarers maintain travel at sea. Port workers maintain port activities. Trains serve the journey of customers and goods on land. All complement each other in the lives of island communities.

"KAI expresses its appreciation to the sailors and all transportation personnel who maintain Indonesia's connectivity. From sea to land, from ports to stations, the movement of people and goods can continue to be connected because many parties play their respective roles,"

KAI's VP of Corporate Communications.