After the operation of the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway, there has been a significant shift in the development strategy of Indonesian railways. At the completion ceremony of the Sanbao Long railway station, President Prabowo announced a new plan to shift the focus of construction from Java to the outer islands and promote the landing of the Trans Sumatra and Trans Kalimantan railways.

Adjust railway layout

At the completion ceremony of the first phase of Dawang Railway Station in Semarang City, Prabowo requested that the Indonesian National Railway Company KAI and the Ministry of Transport promote two major cross island railways. The Trans Sumatra Railway starts from Bakohani in the south and connects to Aceh in the north. If conditions permit, it can be launched simultaneously with the Trans Kalimantan Railway. The project is still in the early stages of research, with priority given to advancing the approximately 380 kilometer section from Aceh to North Sumatra, with a focus on connecting resource production areas with port logistics channels. Keywords: Cross Island Railway, Indonesian Road Network Planning

Distinguish functional positioning

Indonesia is an archipelago country with over 17000 islands, with railway resources previously concentrated on Java Island. According to the plan, Java Island will continue to deepen its urban rail and high-speed passenger transportation, Sumatra will focus on a mixed passenger and freight logistics corridor, and Kalimantan will develop industrial freight railways based on coal and mineral resources. Even though the Yawan high-speed railway has been planned to extend eastward, the national construction priority has been adjusted at this stage. Indonesia hopes to reduce logistics costs through outer island railways, while also meeting the development needs of small towns and low-income groups, and building a nationwide railway network covering multiple islands.Editor/Min Jing