Lembah Anai Train Passengers Surge 206.50 Percent, Serving 130 Thousand Customers from January to May 2026

Trains in West Sumatra have always held stories closely intertwined with public life. Ambit expansive rice fields, traditional nagari settlements, markets, schools, workplaces, public service centers, and tourist gateways, the Lembah Anai Train serves as a local service connecting daily commutes with the experience of enjoying the natural landscapes of Minangkabau.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded that the Lembah Anai Train served 130,504 passengers from January to May 2026. This figure marks a 206.50 percent surge compared to the 42,579 passengers recorded during the same period in 2025. This means there was an additional 87,925 passengers during the first five months of 2026.

This increase has been consistent month over month. In January 2026, the Lembah Anai Train served 24,494 passengers, up from 9,930 passengers in January 2025. February 2026 reached 22,111 passengers, up from 7,243 passengers. March 2026 rose to 28,500 passengers, up from 6,349 passengers. April 2026 logged 29,737 passengers, up from 10,767 passengers. Meanwhile, May 2026 reached 25,662 passengers, up from 8,290 passengers in May 2025.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communications Anne Purba stated that the passenger surge on the Lembah Anai Train demonstrates that local rail services are becoming increasingly relevant to the needs of the West Sumatra community.

“The Lembah Anai Train has a deep connection with the daily lives of West Sumatra residents. Passengers rely on it to commute to work, attend school, trade, travel, access public services, and return home. The ridership growth from January to May 2026 indicates that local services are increasingly vital because they are accessible, affordable, and provide predictable travel times,”

In 2026, the Lembah Anai Train serves the Kayutanam–Padang round-trip route. This corridor connects the areas of Kayutanam, Sicincin, Lubuk Alung, Duku, Tabing, Alai, and Padang Station. For the community, this service unlocks access to centers of education, commerce, employment, healthcare facilities, government services, as well as onward transit to various tourist destinations.

The name Lembah Anai also carries its own emotional appeal. From Kayutanam Station, passengers can easily continue their journeys toward the Lembah Anai conservation area, the Lembah Anai Waterfall, Padang Panjang, and up to Bukittinggi. Traveling by train offers a distinct experience, allowing passengers to admire the many faces of West Sumatra from their windows—such as rice paddies, rolling hills, traditional settlements, and the natural atmosphere that defines Minangkabau.

For families, the Lembah Anai Train presents a simple, economical, and enjoyable weekend travel option. Children can familiarize themselves with public transportation early on, parents gain a highly practical travel alternative, while tourists can experience an easygoing journey toward regional holiday spots.

The presence of the Lembah Anai Train also drives benefits for the local economy. The movement of passengers to and from stations creates opportunities for local MSMEs, food vendors, feeder transport providers, lodging facilities, and tourism operators along the route. As passengers arrive to buy food, utilize local transit services, or proceed to tourist sites, economic benefits directly flow to the surrounding communities.

Based on 2025 BPS data for Padang Pariaman Regency, the region's population reached 467,038 residents, consisting of 234,856 males and 232,182 females. Surrounding the catchments of the Lembah Anai Train service, four districts hold substantial population bases: Batang Anai with 59,681 residents, Lubuk Alung with 50,848 residents, 2 X 11 Kayu Tanam with 30,355 residents, and 2 X 11 Anam Lingkuang with 19,616 residents. The total population across these four districts stands at 160,500 people.

Meanwhile, the city of Padang, as the primary travel destination hub, housed approximately 965.1 thousand residents in 2025, according to Padang BPS data. These figures highlight the massive demand for mobility toward the city center, whether for employment, study, trade, public service access, or tourism.

This demographic layout proves that the Lembah Anai Train operates right at the heart of an active community. Along this line, citizen mobility intersects directly with essential everyday needs: students traveling to schools, workers commuting to offices, traders heading to markets, families visiting relatives, patients accessing healthcare, and tourists enjoying their weekends.

“Behind every trip, there are interconnected stories of families, students, workers, traders, tourists, and MSME players brought together by rail services. Therefore, KAI is committed to keeping the Lembah Anai Train safe, comfortable, affordable, and highly accessible,”

KAI also views the rising ridership of the Lembah Anai Train as a positive signal for the strengthening of public transit in West Sumatra. As more people switch to trains, the region gains a greater opportunity to cultivate orderly, scheduled, and space-efficient mobility habits that bolster local economic activities.

With its affordable fares, reliable schedules, and a route that reaches downtown Padang, the Lembah Anai Train delivers a commuter-friendly travel alternative. The service assists residents in organizing their travels with greater certainty, particularly for regular commuters traveling between the Padang Pariaman region and the city of Padang.

KAI invites the West Sumatra community to utilize the Lembah Anai Train as a preferred choice for daily commutes and leisure trips alike. Schedule information, seat availability, and ticket bookings can be accessed via the Access by KAI application and other official KAI channels.

“We want the Lembah Anai Train to remain a point of pride for the people of West Sumatra. This service bridges locations, enlivens journeys, and helps the community appreciate their own region in a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable way,”

VP Corporate Communications KAI