Padang – In celebration of the 79th Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence, Class II Railway Engineering Centre Padang (BTP Padang) took part in the Merah Putih Light Carnival organized by the Sumatra Barat Provincial Transportation Agency. During the event, BTP Padang transformed a lori (rail trolley) into an Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), showcasing a modern railway innovation.

As an extension of the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA), the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, BTP Padang aimed to introduce this new railway technology to the public. The ART is a train system that is about 30 meters long and features a dual-face design, allowing it to operate in both directions. Unlike conventional trains, ART runs not on tracks but on a road surface equipped with magnetic sensors/radar at all corners, enabling it to operate driverless, much like the Jabodebek LRT.

Meanwhile, a lori is a vehicle that can operate both on roads and railway tracks. It is typically used for railway maintenance and surveillance. Equipped with special tools, it is capable of detecting issues or damages along the rail network.

“We transformed this piece of infrastructure to showcase DJKA's latest innovation and introduce the autonomous tram to the people of West Sumatra, especially since this technology is currently operational in Nusantara Capital City (IKN),” said Hendrialdi, Head of BTP Padang.

“We hope that someday West Sumatra will also have trains with technology that matches the current developments in the world,” he added.