President Prabowo Inaugurates the Revitalized Semarang Tawang Station, Preserving Historical Heritage for Future Mobility
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, officially inaugurated the revitalized Semarang Tawang Station on Thursday (July 30). The inauguration reflects the Government's commitment to improving the quality of public transportation while preserving the historical value and character of this cultural heritage building.
Semarang Tawang Station was built by the Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij in 1911 and began operations in 1914. Throughout its history, the station has played a significant role in the development of Indonesia's railway system, public mobility, and the nation's journey.
In his remarks, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of preserving Semarang Tawang Station as part of the nation's identity and historical legacy.
"Preserving Tawang Station means preserving our identity and our historical journey. A great nation must never forget its history," said President Prabowo.
The President also highlighted the vital role of railways in modern society, noting that they provide broad benefits to the public while supporting economic activities.
"Railways are an economic instrument for the people. Railways must serve the people. Technology and all transportation infrastructure must ultimately be used to serve the people," he stated.
KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin said that the revitalization of Semarang Tawang Station was carried out in response to President Prabowo's directive to enhance passenger services while preserving the station's historical significance.
"The revitalization was completed over 330 days by restoring the station's façade, main hall, western and eastern wings, as well as various architectural ornaments based on historical photographs. Through these efforts, this 112-year-old building can continue to preserve its heritage and historical legacy," Bobby explained.
The need to improve the station's facilities is in line with the growing mobility of the public. Throughout 2025, Semarang Tawang Station recorded 3,862,127 passenger movements. During the first semester of 2026 alone, the station served 2,152,894 passenger arrivals and departures, with an average of 34 train services operating daily.
"More than 2.15 million passenger movements during the first six months of 2026 reaffirm Semarang Tawang Station's position as one of the key transportation hubs in Central Java. This revitalization is expected to improve passenger comfort, strengthen regional connectivity, and support tourism as well as the economy of Semarang City," Bobby added.
Semarang Tawang Station serves train routes connecting Semarang with Jakarta, Bandung, Cirebon, Yogyakarta, Solo, Surabaya, and various other cities across Java. Its strategic location adjacent to the Old Town heritage district further strengthens its role as the main gateway to Semarang's historical tourism destinations.
KAI currently manages more than 600 cultural heritage buildings across Indonesia. Of these, 120 buildings are included in the company's revitalization and beautification program, including Jakarta Kota Station, Tanjung Priok Station, and Bogor Station.
"We hope the revitalization of Semarang Tawang Station will bring broad benefits to the public by strengthening connectivity, encouraging economic activities, and demonstrating that future development can go hand in hand with preserving the nation's historical roots," Bobby concluded.
Following the inauguration ceremony, President Prabowo and his delegation continued their journey to Batang Regency aboard the Nusantara Explorer Presidential Special Train as part of the President's official working visit.
VP Corporate Communication KAI