ACEH (20/10) – The Head of the Class II Railways Engineering Office for the Northern Sumatra Region together with the Director of Railways Infrastructure received a working visit from a member of Commission V of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. H. Ruslan M. Daud, S.E, to the construction site of the Lhokseumawe-Bireuen Railway.

In his remarks, the Director of Railways Infrastructure explained that in the 2021 Fiscal Year, the North Sumatra Railways Engineering Office will carry out several development activities, including:

1. Construction of the Lhokseumawe - Bireuen Cross Railroad (Continued Construction of the 8 km Krueng Geukueh - Paloh Segment Railway)
2. Continuation of the construction of the Trans Sumatran Besitang – Langsa Railway (Segment Sei Liput - Besitang) along 35 km'sp
3. Utility Jobs across Bandar Tinggi – Kuala Tanjung
4. Work on improving the Araskabu – Tebing Tinggi – Siantar railway line along the 105 km'sp.
5. Land Procurement Work of the North Sumatra Regional Railway Engineering Center.

The basis for this Lhokseumawe - Bireun Cross Development is the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia's Economic Development (MP3EI) for 2011-2025 and included in the Master Plan for National Railways (RIPNas) for 2011-2030. The Aceh Trans Sumatra Railways is planned for 426 km from the Aceh-North Sumatra border to St. Lam Ujung, Aceh Besar. And for the plan for the 43.45 km Lhokseumawe – Bireun railway line. The construction of this railway line is to support the connectivity of the Trans Sumatra Railway which is connected from Aceh - North Sumatra - Riau.

The train that has been operating in the Aceh Region is the Krueng Mane – Krueng Geukeuh Cross Train which has been operating since 2013 with a track length of 11.35 km. There are 3 stations for the Krueng Mane – Krueng Geukeuh Station, namely Krueng Mane Station, Bungkaih Station and Krueng Geukueh Station.

Furthermore, for December 2021, it is planned to operate the 10.1 km Krueng Mane – Kutablang Cross Train which will pass through 3 stations, namely Krueng Mane Station, Geurugok Station, and Kutablang Station.

In the 2021-2023 Fiscal Year, which is included in the MYC (Multi Years Contract), it is planned to continue the construction of the 8 km Krueng Geukeuh - Paloh Railway and the construction of the Paloh Station.

Member of Commission V the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. H. Ruslan M. Daud, SE said that rail transportation, especially on the Lhokseumawe - Bireuen route, was highly anticipated by the people of Aceh, and he also supported the construction of a railway on the Lhokseumawe - Bireuen route so that it immediately operated and could support Aceh community connectivity.