Cut Meutia (train)

Cut Meutia
The Cut Meutia in 2022
Overview
Service typeRegional rail
StatusActive
LocaleNorth Aceh Regency
First service3 November 2016
Current operator(s)Kereta Api Indonesia
Ridership32,936 (2022)
Route
TerminiKutablang [id]
Krueng Geukueh
Stops5
Distance travelled21.4 kilometres (13.3 mi)
Average journey time1 hour 3 minutes
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
Legend
KKG
 Kutablang
Trans-Sumatra Highway
GRU
 Geurugok
KRM
 Krueng Mane
BKH
 Bungkaih
Bungkaih Depot
KRG
 Krueng Geukueh
Extension to Paloh
 Paloh

The Cut Meutia is a passenger train service currently operating in Aceh, Indonesia. It was opened in 2016 and currently serves five railway stations in North Aceh and Bireuën Regencies. It is the only operational train service in Aceh.

History

[edit]

Railways had been operational in Aceh since the Dutch East Indies era, linking Banda Aceh to Langkat in North Sumatra. The line ceased operations in 1982, however, leaving Aceh without operational train services and existing stations and railways deteriorating. In 1996, an attempt to develop tracks between Langkat and Aceh's provincial border ceased due to funding difficulties after laying 2 kilometers of track. Another section measuring 5 kilometers was developed in 2000, but again development ceased due to a lack of funds.[1][2]

In 2002, an agreement was struck between governors in Sumatra to redevelop a Trans-Sumatran railway network, which would once more link Aceh to other cities on the island.[1] Following the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, reconstruction aid from France was delivered through SNCF; this included the development of an 11.35 kilometres (7.05 mi) stretch of railway track which followed the 1,435 mm standard gauge instead of the 1,067 mm gauge used elsewhere in Indonesia.[1][3] Trial runs began on 1 December 2013, with tracks from Krueng Mane near Bireuën to Krueng Geukueh near Lhokseumawe via Bungkaih. Due to lack of passenger demand, the trial was halted by July 2014.[1][4]

On 3 November 2016, the service was reopened and given the name Cut Meutia after the national hero Cut Nyak Meutia. Kereta Api Indonesia operates the service.[1][5] As of 2023, it is classified as a "pioneer" service, one of five operational in Indonesia at the time.[6] It is currently the only operational stretch of railway within the province.[6][7]

Starting in April 2023, the service was extended to Bireuën Regency, servicing the Geurugok and Kutablang stations. The total new length of the service became 21.4 kilometres (13.3 mi).[8]

Future extensions

[edit]

A 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) extension to Paloh is in its planning stage.[1] In context of the development of the full Trans-Sumatra system, the 1,435 mm track is planned to meet the national 1,067 mm track at Kutablang, and the planned development of the 1,435 mm railway will be limited to the Kutablang - Lhokseumawe route separate from the main line.[9]

Rolling stock and service

[edit]

The train has two cars and a capacity of 192 passengers,[10][11] and the whole trip lasts for 1 hour and 3 minutes.[12] The diesel rolling stock was manufactured by PT INKA.[13]

As of 2023, the fare for the train is set at Rp 2,000, with multiple daily services in the morning and afternoon.[12][14] As of June 2023, the earliest train departs from Krueng Geukueh at 07:20, and the last train departs from Kutablang at 17:35, making four round-trips daily.[15] Due to its low fare and short travel distance, it is commonly used by locals as a recreational vehicle,[7] especially by schoolchildren.[10] The service is currently subsidized by the Indonesian government, receiving Rp 18.8 billion (~USD 1.2 million) in 2021.[16] The service reported 32,936 riders throughout 2022.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Kereta Api Aceh Dulu dan Kini" (in Indonesian). Aceh Department of Transport. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Pembangunan Rel KA Langkat-Banda Aceh Dihentikan". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 14 September 2002. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Dubes Perancis : Kerjasama Aceh-Perancis Perlu ditingkatkan" (in Indonesian). Aceh Provincial Government. 28 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ^ "KA Perintis Cut Meutia Akan Berhenti Beroperasi Sementara". REDigest (in Indonesian). 18 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Hanya Bayar Rp 1.000, Warga Aceh Kini Bisa Naik Kereta". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Kereta Api dalam Perang dan Damai di Tanah Rencong". tirto.id (in Indonesian). 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Kereta Api perintis Aceh jadi hiburan warga". Antara News (in Indonesian). 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Kereta Api di Aceh Disambut Antusias". Kompas (in Indonesian). 19 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Berbeda Gauge, Bagaimana Jalur Trans Sumatera di Aceh Nantinya?". REDigest (in Indonesian). 6 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Di Aceh, Kereta Perintis Jadi Wisata Transportasi untuk Anak". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  11. ^ "KERETA API PERINTIS CUT MEUTIA" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transport. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Naik Kereta Api Cuma Rp 2.000 Dari Krueng Geukueh ke Kutablang". Serambi News (in Indonesian). 18 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Masa Depan Kereta Api Perintis Cut Meutia" (in Indonesian). Aceh Department of Transport. 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Jadwal dan Harga Tiket KA Lokal Cut Meutia Relasi Krueng Geukueh-Krueng Mane PP". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 19 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. ^ Ramadhan, Rafli (2 June 2023). "Kabar Gembira! Rute Kereta Api Perintis Cut Meutia di Aceh Diperpanjang - Ihwal". ihwal.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Kemenhub Tambah Alokasi Anggaran Subsidi KA Perintis". Republika (in Indonesian). 7 January 2021. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Data Statistik" (in Indonesian). Directorate General of Railways, Ministry of Transport. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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