The Trans-Sumatra Railway is a proposed railway line in Sumatra that would run from Aceh in the north to Lampung in the south. The total length would be over 2,000 kilometres, and it would connect major cities and ports of Sumatra.
President Joko Widodo announced the plan for the Trans-Sumatra Railway in December 2014, and the project was expected to begin construction in 2015. There are already some railways that are operating on Sumatra, so they would be integrated into a trans-island railway.
Trans-Sumatra Railway Maps
This map shows the main stops as a general overview. The actual stations and the exact route aren’t known yet. This will be updated when more information is released.
[Map of Trans-Sumatra Railway.]
This map is used most frequently on presentations by the Directorate General Of Railways Ministry Of Transportation (original source unknown).
Map from the Ministry of Transportation Directorate General of Railways (source).
Current and proposed railways of Sumatra from my Southeast Asia current and proposed railways map.
Railway network plan in Sumatera island (source).
Trans Sumatra Railway plan (source).
Trans Sumatera Railway (source).
Future Indonesian Map: Sumatera is a Sumatra rail map by Samuel Tambunan. The map is based on the railway network plan in Sumatra by the Ministry of Transportation, with some personal modifications.
Links and Resources
SUMATRA ISLAND | Sumatra Trains, Railway, Station, Projects and Development
Sumatra Railways: A guide to every operating railway in Sumatra.
News Archive
2023
Build Trans-Sumatra Railway, Lampung provincial government Asks for central assistance – [31/05/21]
“The Lampung Provincial Government (Pemprov) is submitting another plan to the Central Government for the construction of the Trans-Sumatra Railway to support the development of mass transportation.”
2022
Indonesia looking to extend railway network by 2030 – [07/07/22]
“The development plans are based on the National Railways Master plan, he said and noted this include the development of the railway network in Sumatra and Sulawesi islands, double-track railways, electrification of main lines, and high-speed railway in Java region.”
2020
Review of Track Gauge for Trans-Sumatera Railway Revitalization and Development – [June 2020]
2019
Palembang to Bandar Lampung by train – riding the coal-subsidised railway of South Sumatra – [07/11/19]
My trip report of the Palembang to Bandar Lampung railway.
Jokowi vows to continue work on Trans-Sumatra railway track – [26/03/19]
“Indonesian Presidential candidate number 01 Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has vowed to continue the construction of the Trans-Sumatra railway track connecting Dumai city in Riau Province to Labuhanbatu in North Sumatra Province.”
2017
Trans Sumatra railway lines to be completed end of 2019: minister – [25/09/17]
North Sumatra–Aceh train to operate by 2019 – [18/01/17]
“State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has set a target to reactivate the trans-Sumatra train connecting Medan in North Sumatra to Aceh by 2019.”
2016
Pemprov Riau heavily socialised land acquisition of railway lines – [15/08/16]
“The Riau Provincial Government will be serious with the construction of the railway from North Sumatra to Riau or Rantau Prapat-Duri-Dumai along 249 km. where, the construction of a Trans-Sumatran Railway includes Pekanbaru-Teluk Kuantan-Muaro 164 km, Pekanbaru-Jambi 350 km, Rantau Prapat-Duri-Dumai 249 km and Duri-Pekanbaru 90 km.
“KA Trans-Sumatran would also link the three ports in Riau i.e. Dumai, Tanjung in Regency of Siak and Kuala Enok in Indragiri Hulu Regency,””.
China offers huge loans for Indo rail projects – [18/05/16]
“The Antara news agency reported a senior official with Indonesia’s Transport Ministry as saying that the Chinese government is offering to provide a IDR40trn loan for the Trans-Sulawesi Railway project and the same amount for the Trans-Sumatra line.”
Riau to build rail track this year – [18/02/16]
“A 21-kilometer rail track would be built between Bukit Kapur-Dumai in the city of Dumai, Riau this year at a cost of Rp80 billion from the state budget.
The track, to be operational this year is part of the Trans Sumatra Railway, a provincial official said.”
“Assistant II for economic development at provincial administration secretariat Masperi said the regional administration is focused more on development of a mega infrastructure project this year to build rail track to link the province with North Sumatra or Rantau Prapat-Duri-Dumai 249 kilometers long.
In Riau the Trans Sumatra section will extend between Pekanbaru and Telukkuantan and Muaro 164 km long, Pekanbaru-Jambi 350 km, Rantau Prapat-Duri-Dumai 249 km and Duri-Pekanbaru 90 km.
The Trans Sumatra Railway would also make links to three main ports in Riau — Dumai, Tanjung Buton in the regency of Siak and Kuala Enok in the regency of Indragiri Hilir.”
2015
Jokowi vows major public transportation revamp – [26/03/15]
“The Trans-Sumatra railway project will see Lampung in the south and Medan in North Sumatra connected with passenger train services.”
2014
Trans-Sumatra railway should not remain a dream: Economist – [24/12/14]
“The 2,168-kilometer-long railway line that will connect Aceh in the northernmost tip of Sumatra and Lampung in the southern tip of the island will cover several cities and seaports such as Pekanbaru, Duri, Dumai, Tanjung Buton, and Kuala Enok in Riau”.
Govt to speed up railway projects next year – [19/12/14]
“The first railway project to launch will be the long-awaited Trans-Sumatra railway in March.”
Trans-Sumatra railway in sight – [27/11/14]
“The Transportation Ministry is preparing a 2,168-kilometer railway linking Aceh in the northern part of Sumatra to Lampung on the southern tip of the country’s longest island as part of the medium-term development program.”
Trans-Sumatra railway project to begin construction next year – [27/11/14]
They’ve been talking about this for over a hundred years and will still be talking in 2100.