BTP Padang Proposes Reactivation of Sawahlunto-Solok and Solok-Batu Tabal Railway Lines

Apart from tourism, the reactivation of the railway line from Solok to Batu Tabal is also to support the preservation of the Ombilin Sawahlunto Coal Mine Heritage which has UNESCO world heritage status.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in BTP Padang Usulkan Reaktivasi Jalur KA Sawahlunto-Solok dan Solok-Batu Tabal

YOLA SASTRA

Illustration. Workers are adjusting the height of railway tracks (lifting the sleeper) in Sawahan Subdistrict, East Padang, Padang, West Sumatra, on Thursday (16/1/2019). This reactivated 2.8-kilometer railway line connects Padang Station and Pulau Air Station near the Old Town of Padang.

PADANG PARIAMAN, KOMPAS - The Class II Railway Technical Office or Balai Teknik Perkeretaapian (BTP) in Padang has proposed a plan to reactivate the Sawahlunto-Solok and Solok-Batu Tabal railway lines. Aside from tourism purposes, the reactivation of these lines is also to support the preservation of the Ombilin Sawahlunto Coal Mining Heritage, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Head of BTP Padang Supandi, in Padang Pariaman on Tuesday (11/21/2023), stated that in addition to improving the active route from Padang to Padang Pariaman, the agency is also proposing to the central government to reactivate the railroad track from Sawahlunto to Batu Tabal, Tanah Datar, for the next five years. Please note: PKS is not translated as it is a forbidden word.

"Hopefully this proposal can be accepted and built gradually. If not, this route that has become part of the world's cultural heritage could disappear," said Supandi during a media tour activity at the Minangkabau International Airport Station in Padang Pariaman."

Also read: 44 Years Dead, Pulau Aie Train Station in Padang Old City Begins Operating

Supandi explained that in the strategic plan for 2025-2029, the reactivation of the Sawahlunto (Muaro Kalaban Station)-Solok route (about 23.48 km) will be carried out in 2026-2028, while the Solok-Batu Tabal route (34.08 km) will be worked on in 2027-2029. In the process, BTP will also carry out route sterilization and several planning studies.

According to Supandi, this path that is part of the UNESCO world heritage site will serve passenger transportation, especially for tourists. This is because the path has great potential as it passes along the edge of Lake Singkarak. If possible, reactivation can be done up to Padang Panjang.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Head of the Padang Class II Railway Technical Office, Supandi, gave a statement during a media tour at the Minangkabau International Airport Station, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, on Tuesday (21/11/2023).

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The Minangkabau Express airport train awaits passengers heading towards the center of Padang city at the Minangkabau International Airport Station in Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, Tuesday (11/21/2023). The Minangkabau Express serves the route from Pulau Aie Station in Padang city to Minangkabau International Airport Station in Padang Pariaman.

Supandi continued, reactivating inactive railway tracks does require a large amount of funds. However, the department has taken planning measures to ensure that the inactive railway line can be revived.

"At Sawahlunto-Muaro Kalaban station, the Mak Itam (tourist train) has already arrived. We will gradually strive to activate its tracks until Padang Panjang," he said.

Delayed

Apart from reactivating the route from Sawahlunto to Batu Tabal, said Supandi, the office will also soon reactivate the Naras-Sungai Limau route. The 7.5 km route that connects Pariaman and Padang Pariaman will be worked on between 2025 and 2027. Sterilization of the path will be carried out next year.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Members of the public disembarked from the Sibinuang train at Pariaman Station in the city of Pariaman, West Sumatra on Sunday (12/8/2018). The presence of the train, which travels from Padang to Pariaman, has had a very positive impact on the development of tourism in the city of Pariaman.

Supandi admits that the reactivation of the Naras-Sungai Limau railway for passenger and cargo trains has been delayed due to budget issues. The former head of the agency, Suranto, revealed that the project will be implemented in 2023 (Kompas.id, 15/11/2021).

"There are other priorities, the budget is being used elsewhere. Several studies estimate that a budget of Rp 300 billion to Rp 500 billion is needed. This proposal is being suggested again. The enforcement of the plan's routes will be done next year, followed by building in the following year. The target is from 2025 to 2027," he said.

Also read: Almost a Century Dead, the Naras-Sungai Limau Route in West Sumatra is Reactivated

The Padang BTP data indicates that overall, West Sumatra has a railway line of 353.114 km. Of that total, only 107.221 km is active, while the remaining 245.893 km is inactive.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Map of railway lines in West Sumatra. Source: BTP Padang.

Utilization

On that occasion, transportation expert from Andalas University, Yossyafra, stated that the development of railway infrastructure in West Sumatra in the past five years has been rapid. However, the development must be balanced by efforts to motivate the community to utilize the railway.

So far, according to Yossyafra, the interest of the community in using trains, especially the Minangkabau Express Train (airport), is still low. The causes are, among other things, the lack of integration of public transportation in Padang with train stations. Going forward, this integration is very necessary.

"Integration can be achieved by changing the route of city transportation to intersect with train stations. The role of provincial, district, and city governments is important in integrating the network of city transportation with trains," said Yossyafra."

Also read: Three Train Stations in Padang City Inaugurated

The chairman of the West Sumatra Indonesian Railway Society (Maska) added that another cause is the long waiting period for trains. The waiting period for the airport train, for example, reaches two hours. There must be efforts from policy makers to shorten waiting periods or provide coworking space facilities so that passengers' time waiting is more productive.

According to data from BTP Padang, the number of train passengers in West Sumatra from January to October 2023 was 1,383,411 people. This figure has increased compared to the previous three years. In 2020 and 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), the number of passengers was 593,597 and 642,822 respectively, and in 2022 it was 1,292,173. Meanwhile, in 2019, the number of passengers reached 1,548,017.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Passengers board the Minangkabau Express airport train at Padang Station, Simpang Haru Village, Padang Timur District, Padang City, West Sumatra, on Tuesday (21/11/2023).