Most railway lines in Indonesia were constructed during the Dutch colonial rule. After independence in 1945, many lines were abandoned. The current national rail operator, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), was founded on 28 September 1945.
Indonesia (Dutch East Indies) was the second country in Asia to establish a rail transport, after India; China and Japan were next to follow. [1] On 7 June 1864, Governor General Baron Sloet van den Beele initiated the first railway line in Indonesia on Kemijen village, Semarang, Central Java. [1] It began operations on 10 August 1867 in Central Java and connected the first built Semarang station to Tanggung for 25 kilometers. [1] [2] By 21 May 1873, the line had connected to Solo, both in Central Java and was later extended to Yogyakarta. This line was operated by a private company, Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS or NISM) and used the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge gauge. Later construction by both private and state railway companies used the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge.
The liberal Dutch government of the era was then reluctant to build its own railway, preferring to give a free rein to private enterprises. However, private railways could not provide the expected return of investment (even NIS required some financial assistance from the government), and the Dutch Ministry of Colonies finally approved a state railway system, the Staatsspoorwegen (SS), extending from Buitenzorg (now Bogor) in the west, to Surabaya in the east. Construction began from both ends, the first line (from Surabaya) being opened on 16 May 1878, and both cities were connected by 1894.
By the 1920s, the system in Java had reached its greatest extent, with most towns and cities connected by rail, with branches and tramways connecting sugar plantations to factories.
The Great Depression of the 1930s put laid to plans of constructing railway lines in Borneo, Celebes, connecting the lines in Sumatra and electrification of the lines in Java.
After the Dutch state started railway construction, private enterprises did not completely get out of the picture, and at least 15 light railway companies operated in Java. These companies operated as "steam tram companies", but despite the name, were better described as regional secondary lines.
As befits a colonial enterprise, most railway lines in Indonesia had a dual purpose: economic and strategic. In fact, a condition for the financial assistance for the NIS was that the company build a railway line to Ambarawa, which connected to the one of an important military base named Fort Willem I for the Dutch king. The first state railway line was built through the mountains on the southern part of Java, instead of the flat regions on the north, for a similar strategic reason. The state railway in Java connected Anyer on the western coast of the island, to Banyuwangi on the eastern coast.
In Sumatra, railways were first used for military purposes, with a railway line connecting Banda Aceh and its port of Uleelhee in 1876. This railway, the Atjeh Staats Spoorwegen (ASS), first built to a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge which was later regauged to 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and extended south. This line was only transferred to the Ministry of Colonies from the Ministry of War on 1 January 1916, following the relative pacification of Aceh.
The Western Sumatra's state railway in the Minangkabau area, the Staatsspoorwegen ter Sumatra's Westkust (SSS) transported coal from inland mines to the port at Padang and was built between 1891 and 1894
The Southern Sumatra's state railway, the Staatsspoorwegen op Zuid-Sumatra (ZSS), was completed in the 1930s. It served a fertile plantation area and an important coal mine.
Another important private railway line was the Deli Spoorweg Maatschappij (DSM). This line served regions producing rubber and tobacco in Deli.
Between July 1922 and 1930, a 47 kilometres (29 mi)-long railway line operated in South Sulawesi. This line was to be extended to North Sulawesi, as part of a massive project of railway construction in Borneo and Sulawesi, connection of separate railway systems in Sumatra and electrification of the main lines in Java. The Great Depression of 1929 put paid to these plans.
During the Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945, the different railway lines in Java were managed as one entity. The Sumatra systems, being under the administration of a different branch of the Japanese armed forces, remained separate.
The occupiers also converted the (1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge lines in Java into 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), thereby resolving the dual gauge issue. This was not an actual "problem" as there was not much transfer of materials between the systems, and much of the 1,435 mm system had been fitted with a third rail by 1940, creating a mixed-gauge railway. Many locomotives were seized and transported to Malaya, Burma and elsewhere.[ citation needed ] The railway network was reduced from 6,811 km (4,232 mi) in 1939 to 5,910 km (3,670 mi) in 1950 in order to provide material for railway construction in Burma. [3]
During the war for independence between 1945 and 1949, freedom fighters took over the railways, creating the first direct predecessor to today's PT Kereta Api, the Djawatan Kereta Api Repoeblik Indonesia (Railway Bureau of the Republic of Indonesia), on 28 September 1945. This date, not the 1867 one, is regarded as the birth date of Indonesian railways and commemorated as Railway Day every year, due to political ground.
On the other hand, the Dutch created its own combined railway system to manage the lines located on its occupied territory, the Verenigd Spoorwegbedrijf (Combined Railways). By the time of Dutch recognition of Indonesian independence, the VS had most railway lines under its management, though not all were in operation.
With Indonesia's full independence in 1949, the separate systems (except the Deli Railway) were combined into the Djawatan Kereta Api. Non-state railway systems in Java retained their paper existence until 1958, when all railway lines in Indonesia were nationalized, including the Deli Railway, thereby creating the Perusahaan Negara Kereta Api (PNKA: State Railway Corporation) in 1963. [4] On 15 September 1971 the name of PNKA was changed to Perusahaan Jawatan Kereta Api (PJKA, the Indonesian Railway Systems). [5] Later then, on 2 January 1991, PJKA was changed its name and status as Perusahaan Umum Kereta Api (Perumka, the Indonesian Railways Public Company), [6] and since 1 June 1999, this company was changed to a limited company, PT Kereta Api (Persero) (PT KA). [7] In May 2010, the name of "PT KA" was changed to PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (PT KAI, The Indonesian Railways Company) till present. [8]
The headquarters of the state railway system, since Dutch colonial days, had been located in Bandung, West Java. Private railway companies were headquartered elsewhere, in Semarang, Tegal, Surabaya and Medan.
Construction of new railway lines has been scarce. In 1997, a line was inaugurated from Citayam to Nambo in West Java. At the beginning, this line was planned to be incorporated into a larger circular line network, ranging from Cikarang to Parung Panjang. [9] This plan had to be postponed due to the 1997 economic crisis. [10] The first airport rail link in Indonesia, the Kualanamu Airport Rail Link, connects Medan with Kualanamu International Airport, which was inaugurated on 4 September 2013. [11] [12] The Soekarno–Hatta Airport Rail Link was opened between Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and BNI City on 26 December 2017. [13] Minangkabau Ekspres, connecting Minangkabau International Airport and Padang, was inaugurated on 21 May 2018. [14] The Adisumarmo Airport Rail Link, connecting Adisoemarmo International Airport station and Solo Balapan, opened on 29 December 2019. [15] Yogyakarta International Airport Rail Link, connecting Yogyakarta International Airport with Yogyakarta was completed in September 2021. [16] The Trans-Sulawesi Railway is[ when? ] under construction, and is built with 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge which is wider than the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) cape gauge used in Java and older lines in Sumatra to accommodate more weight and speed. [17] [18]
Most new construction is concentrated on double- and quad-tracking of existing railway lines. In 2011, double-tracking of the line from Semarang to Surabaya Pasar Turi was begun. [19] The project was finished with the double-tracking of the final segment between Bojonegoro and Surabaya Pasar Turi on 8 May 2014. [20] The line between Manggarai and Cikarang on Rajawali-Cikampek line is being quadrupled, with the first section between Jatinegara and Cakung opened on 14 April 2019. [21]
The majority of Indonesia's railways are on Java, used for both passenger and freight transport. There are three noncontinuous railway networks in Sumatra while two new networks are being developed in Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Indonesia has finalized its plan for a national railway network recently. According to the plan, 3,200 km of train tracks that will criss-cross the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, it has been touted as the most extensive railway project in Indonesia since its independence from the Dutch in 1945. Indonesia targets to extend the national railway network to 10,524 kilometres by 2030. As of September 2022, the network spans 7,032km.
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (English: Indonesian Railways Company, abbreviated as PT KAI or simply KAI) is the sole operator of public railways in Indonesia. It is completely state-owned and pays track access charges to the government. The headquarters of KAI are located in Bandung, West Java.
The Ambarawa Railway Museum, is a museum located in Ambarawa in Central Java, Indonesia. The museum preserves around 21 steam locomotives and focusing on tourism train tour hauled by 3 operational steam engines and a hydraulic diesel engine, using the remains of the closing of the 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) railway line.
Surabaya Pasar Turi Station or Surabaya Pasarturi Station (SBI) is the second largest railway station in Surabaya, East Java. Located near the biggest market Pasar Turi, Semarang 1 street, Gundih, Bubutan, Surabaya. Pasar Turi Station has passenger trains that travel to the west of Surabaya such as to Jakarta and Semarang. This station is main departure point of all train from city of Surabaya which passes through Pantura, but train south and east line from city of Surabaya departed from Surabaya Gubeng. Since 2014, the station has upgraded railway signal and railroad switch devices from mechanical to electrical type produced by PT. LEN Indonesia.
Cirebon Station also known as Cirebon Kejaksan Station is the main railway station in the Cirebon area located on Siliwangi Street, Kebonbaru, Kejaksan, Cirebon. The station is located at DAOP 3 area as North Cross Line, but in this station there is also cross line in Purwokerto Station which is connected by South Cross Line in Kroya Station. Therefore, most of the trains both north and south lines stopped at this station, except economy class train which is stop at Cirebon Prujakan.
Cirebon Prujakan Station (CNP) is a railway station in Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia. The station is located at a height of 4 metres above sea level is located at Nyimas Gandasari Street, Pekalangan, Pekalipan, Cirebon. Cirebon Prujakan Station is the largest station on DAOP 3 Cirebon after Cirebon Station and Jatibarang Station.
Solo Balapan Station is a major railway station in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. The name "Balapan" is taken from the name of a village which is located to the north of the station. The station is located on the railway line that connects the cities of Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Semarang. Solo Balapan Station is the largest station in Surakarta and Central Java.
The Jakarta Kota–Manggarai railway, nicknamed the rainbow line, is an elevated, 15 km long railway line that connects Jakarta Kota with Manggarai. Given its central position in the city, it is one of the most important railways in Jakarta.
Semarang Poncol Station (SMC) is a historic railway station in Purwosari, North Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia. The station which is located at an altitude of +3 meters is included in the Semarang Operational Area IV and is the second main station in Semarang after Semarang Tawang Station. It was built in 1914 and is considered an early example of Art Deco architecture.
The Naamlooze Vennootschap.Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij, abbreviated to NIS, NISM or N.V. NISM was private-owned railways company in charge of rail transport in Java, Dutch East Indies. The company's headquarters were in Semarang. The company started its maiden route from Semarang to Vorstenlanden and in 1873 they also built their line to the Willem I Railway Station of Ambarawa–Kedungjati and Batavia–Buitenzorg. Later the network expanded to Bandung and Surabaya. They were the main competitors to Staatsspoorwegen which was state-owned version and it was established on April 6, 1875.
Purwokerto Station (PWT) is a large railway station located in West Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The station is located at an altitude of 75 m. It is the largest station under the management of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Operation Area V Purwokerto. As a large station, all trains that pass through the Prupuk-Kroya railway line must stop at this station.
Kualanamu Airport Railink Services (ARS) (Indonesian: KA Bandara Kualanamu) is an airport rail link service in Medan in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The rail link is built to cut travel time from Medan railway station to Kualanamu International Airport, as roads connecting the airport and Medan city center are frequently affected by traffic congestion.
Minangkabau Express is an airport rail link service in West Sumatra, Indonesia. This line was built to cut travel time from Padang city centre to the Minangkabau International Airport in Padang Pariaman Regency, as roads connecting the airport and the city center are frequently affected by traffic congestion.
Adisumarmo Airport Rail Link is an airport rail link service in Central Java, Indonesia. The service was built to cut travel time from Surakarta city center to Adisumarmo International Airport. It is operated by Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) because its subsidiary KAI Bandara doesn't have stakes owned by Angkasa Pura I.
Kroya Station (KYA) is a railway station located in Bajing, Kroya, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The station has nine railway tracks. It is a major junction station where the line from Yogyakarta split, where one goes to Purwokerto and Cirebon, while other head to Bandung.
Duku Station (DUK) is a railway station located in Kasang, Batang Anai, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra. The station, which is located at an altitude of +7m, is included in the Regional Division II West Sumatra. To the northeast from line 1 of this station there is a new branch to Minangkabau International Airport which has been operating since 2018.
Maguwo Station (MGW) is a Class II airport railway station located in Maguwoharjo, Depok, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The station, which is located at an altitude of +118 meters, is included in the Operational Region VI Yogyakarta. It is the eastern and northernmost active station in Special Region of Yogyakarta, as well as the first airport railway station in Indonesia as it is located in front of Adisutjipto International Airport. Currently it has four railway tracks with lines 2 and 3 being straight lines.
Staatsspoorwegen was a state-owned railway company which managed by the Dutch East Indies colonial government.The company was one of the companies that were transferred to the present Kereta Api Indonesia after Indonesian independence in 1945. The main competitor was Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS) as private-owned version of railways company which had standard gauge and cape gauge lines.
Minangkabau International Airport Station (BIM) is a class I airport railway station located on airport complex in Katapiang, Batang Anai, Padang Pariaman Regency. The position of this station is to the northeast of the airport's passenger terminal. The station, which is located at an altitude of +2 meters, is included in the Regional Division II West Sumatra.