Medan Airport Rail Link

A review of the train between Medan and its airport.
Medan’s new Kuala Namu International Airport opened on 25 July 2013. A new toll road between it and Medan City is still under construction, and trips of 1 to 2 hours are common.
However, a new rail link between Medan and the airport is open now. In another example of poor English skills, it is spelled Railink.

Some airlines and hotels near Medan Railway Station
are giving their clients free or discounted rides

It is hoped that Railink will fulfil the need for a reliable, comfortable and fast means of transport for visitors. (For those transiting Medan, there is also an airport bus to the Amplas bus terminal). However, some residents have baulked at the high ticket price: Rp80 000 ($US8).
But how does Railink work and is it any good? The Indonesian-only official website isn’t much help in this area to foreign visitors, so Mau Ke Mana recently sent some secret shoppers to try it out. Their comments below are in grey.

Railink Timetable

Effective 14 November 2013 – click to enlarge
Berangkat = Depart, Tiba = Arrive, Waktu = Time

GETTING THERE

The train station at the airport is conveniently located, not far from the domestic arrivals hall. It is easy to find and well signposted. The lift is a bit small; only 3 people with luggage trollies could enter it at a time.
By contrast, the train station in Medan seems inadequate. The main access is a large walkway/ramp (not stairs or escalators); the area is not covered, so would be uncomfortably hot on a sunny day, especially when bringing luggage. The waiting area near the platforms already seems cramped, despite there being few passengers at the time.

THE TRAIN

Facilities: Seats with reclining backrests, baggage racks, clean bathrooms

New Korean-built trains have arrived, so facilities are now top-notch. Wi-fi is coming soon.

The journey is usually about 40 minutes, with no other official stops in between. The Medan city part of the journey can be interrupted or delayed by other inter-city trains needing to pass.
The baggage racks were big enough for suitcases, backpacks, etc. Surfboards might be too long, though.

If you’re heading to the airport, there is also the option of checking in your bags at Medan Station, via the city check-in service. You then don’t have to carry/push them on and off the train.

Seats are similar in style and comfort to Indonesian executive-class trains, but without the footrests and cushions.

THE PRACTICALITIES
1. Ticketing

We didn’t have any difficulty purchasing tickets because we have been to Indonesia before. Perhaps the first-time visitor may be a little confused about how much to pay or which banknotes to give.

Train tickets can also be purchased on the Railink website, but only 1-7 days in advance and doing it this way incurs additional fees. So, in most cases it’s easier to just buy the tickets in cash on the day.

Tickets are cards you insert into a slot before proceeding through a gate, like on Jakarta’s Busway system.

2. Timing/When To Go

The Railink brochure recommends (in Indonesian) passengers departing Medan select a train that leaves Medan Station at least 2 hours before departure.

For example, passengers on the 11:30 Wings Air flight to Nias should select a train departing before 09:30. Looking at the timetable, the 09:10 train is suitable.
The two hour minimum would be suitable for domestic flights; three hours before would be a wise choice for those departing on international flights.

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Do not Turn Solo KA-rail line Wonogiri!

Railway. Jess ... jess ... tuuuut .... tuuut ... This secuplik scenes of our childhood when you see a train passing on the tracks. At first glance it does not look special, just a passing train them on the rails. In fact, sometimes we are often treated to views of the slums with scattered clothing and bedding in the sun on the edge of the tracks.However, the image is once again disappears when you try to take the train from station to station Solo Purwosari Winton. This train passes every day in the city of Solo, which is on the edge of Jalan Jalan Slamet Riyadi and Maj. Sunaryo Solokota to get into the station.Walking hand in hand with vehicle-four and two-wheel vehicles, these trains run at speeds of about 30 kilometers per hour. If you are lucky, you can feel mighty locomotive BB30003 light blue with a picture of four adjacency Javanese wayang figures, Petruk, Gareng, Semar and Bagong, known as Punakawan.Locomotive is that five years ago used to draw a series of KA-type Winton Solo Central Java Governor Mardiyanto inaugurated. KA inaugural trip was a guided tour three cars late Sinuhun Pakubowono XII.Currently, BB30003 locomotive is already not attractive tourist train Punakawan. Krupp locomotives, Germany has been aged approximately 40 years. Although she was quite frail with a maximum road speed of 50 kilometers per hour, these locomotives hauling passenger trains faithful Bengawan economy departing from Jakarta.Every day from 8:00 to 9:00, BB30003 locomotive with a wagon in tow waiting for passengers awaiting the arrival of the railway Bengawan Solo and citizens who will go to Winton. Exit the station Purwosari, slogan 35, locomotive horn will sound by road users Hasanudin and Slamet Riyadi.Imagine, traveling by train that cut through the center of a city. Where else you can find and experience a unique view of this kind in Indonesia if not in Solo?The existence of a rail line on the edge of the road Slamet Riyadi a railway network in Indonesia that is still in active use from before until now. Another great feature that you can be when traveling by train Solo-Wonogiri not just enjoy the scenery Jalan Slamet Riyadi. There are other peculiarities which emitted a train set, a spirit of togetherness and sincerity of the people around rail crossings through which this train.Just look at when you will enter Solokota station, a middle-aged man would stop a vehicle that would pass the rail crossing was barred door. Simply with a wave and a friendly smile from the driver and assistant driver to the middle-aged man, the train speeds away quietly. Without spending a dime, trains can swing freely. A social portrait of the rarely found in a number of intersections in the metropolis are loaded with police cepe'annya.Not just in the area Solokota station, all the way to Winton, more than a dozen crossings not barred door through this train. And still, the bond of togetherness and solidarity was never broken. Starting from plumbers tires, youth villages, helping farmers to secure the train Solo-Winton.The existence of a rail line Solo-Winton is quite unique and meaningful. According to the assistant train drivers-Wonogiri Rochmad Solo, who was serving time, the demarcation line was once the territory of the two kingdoms based in Surakarta Kraton and Kraton Surakarta Mangkunegaran.The uniqueness of the city with a touch of community togetherness Solo can not be forgotten. Moreover, the experience of crossing pass on the Bengawan Solo river is also a wonderful travel experience. Conditions iron bridge with a well-preserved tracks, not to cause anxiety to the passengers of this train every day. Unfortunately, after the rail network to the train station Sukoharjo Wonogiri, poor condition. Most of the iron is embedded pads are closed flat premises grass and wild plants, and even reply (pebbles) between the pads were not visible.The route along the 39 kilometers is still using R33 rail types that are no longer suitable to the conditions of the development of the rail network in Indonesia today. Currently, the main rail network across the island of Java has been used rail R54 type. Rail with type R54 allows passenger train diesel locomotive-drawn sort CC201, CC203 and CC204 can run smoothly with a maximum weight of 17.5 billion tons per year. While the rail network Solo-Winton only able to pass a series of trains with a maximum weight of about four billion tonnes per year. Not surprisingly, when the rail network was just passable similar locomotives BB300 and D301."The line is actually more social than profitable. Look up passengers per day on average only half filled carriages, often only a quarter be destroy cars only. Well, better rail lines remained impassable KA than left abandoned, might be nati squatter settlements, "said Djoko Moeljo BB30003 machinist.
The specificity of this route is that you can see the station after station Pasarnguter Winton, on the left rail, precisely in the area Tekaran, you can see the train stop. Wooden buildings was formerly often used the people around to wait for a passing train to Winton to Baturetno.Along the 39 kilometer rail network is not only beneficial to the citizens of Witney and surrounding areas. Solo KA-rail network has deservedly become an asset Winton PT. KA should be preserved and maintained, linked to social values ​​and history bears.

Once again, do not turn off the Solo KA-rail line Wonogiri!