Medan LRT

Medan LRT
Overview
OwnerKereta Api Indonesia
Area servedMedan
LocaleMedan, Indonesia
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines3 (planned)
Number of stations17 (planned)
Operation
Operation will startTBA
Operator(s)Indonesian Railway Company
Number of vehicles20 (planned)
Train length2
Technical
System length41.3 kilometres (25.7 miles) (planned)
No. of tracks2
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)[1]
Electrification750 V Third rail
Top speed80 km/h

The Medan Light Rail Transit (Medan LRT) is a planned light rail transit system in Medan, Indonesia. Made due to concerns of the congested future of the city, the government deems the project, alongside the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), necessary. The project was announced in 2017 as a public-private partnership, with many international corporations began bidding. Construction began in 2019, but was disturbed the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, there have been no major developments. The LRT will use one rolling stock, with more than 20 stations divided into three lines.

History

Medan, home to more than 2.5 million people, offers several modes of public transportation.[2] Every year, the city experiences an average of 0.3% increase in population.[3] Despite that, 98% of the population uses private, instead of public, transportation, with an 6% average increase in vehicle quantity every year according to the North Sumatra Department of Transportation. If this continues, by 2024, Medan was predicted to be gridlocked.[2][4] Then-Vice Mayor Akhyar Nasution called the need for a rail system "mandatory" and urgent;[5] this is confirmed by the city's Spatial and Regional Plan for 2022-2042.[4] Other than gridlock prevention, the 2024 National Sports Week (PON) was to be held in Medan, hinting the need for easy mobility.[6] Along with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Medan Light Rail Transit (Medan LRT) is part of a governmental masterplan (RPJMN) of 2020–2024,[7] and is expected to have 4,473,996 passengers per year.[8] On 5 May, 2017, the government of Medan settled an agreement with the Indonesian Ministry of Finance in regards to the facilities the light rail transit system will have.[9]

The project was given a concession period of 20 years.[8] On 6 June, 2017, detik.com revealed that the total budget required to create the LRT requires Rp 6,34 billion or US$477.4 million,[10][EN 1] including Rp 2,2 billion for rolling stock;[11] this later changes to Rp 12,339 billion,[12] and then Rp 20,3 billion.[8] Budgeting for the project uses blended finance to not involve state budget.[13] As a public-private partnership, the project has an availability payment of Rp 5,755 billion/year.[14]: 5  The estimated profits from fares would cover around 70% of the budget, with 25% from property developments in areas affected by transit-oriented development (TOD), and 5% from advertisements. Hence, the LRT would break-even after 12.69 years of operation, with a "very good" profitability index of 1.62.[15]

SMRT Corporation announced it will help with the project using their experiences.[16] In 2018, companies from China and South Korea have expressed interest in developing the project.[17] In June 2019, Korea Rail Network Authority was announced as the preferred partner, and it was planned that the LRT will connect the contiguous North Sumatran areas of Medan, Binjai, Deli Serdang and Karo, collectively named Mebidangro, which is also the LRT's nickname.[18] The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank also expressed interest in an LRT system in Medan.[19] Coordinator of the Ministry of Maritimes Affairs and Fisheries, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, asked for the project to utilize 60% of "local components" and not foreign products as a redemption to the government's financial shortcomings, which they did, with the help of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (INKA),[20] with the help of the Ministry of State Owned Enterprises (BUMN).[21] On 5 April 2019, an open-to-public press conference was held; 190 people attended it.[22]

The project's online business case ended in 2019, and the final business case commenced in late 2020.[8] Throughout that year, it underwent a phase of worthiness test and "Detail Engineering Design" (DED).[6] Construction of the LRT started in 2019 and the LRT itself was expected to begin operations in 2020,[23] however it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning and conferences, though, still continues amid the pandemic, even though progress slowed down. North Sumatra's Development Planning Board secretary Yosi Sukmono said that construction should continue in 2021.[7] Before the pandemic, it was expected to finish by 2023.[6] Planning and conferences include studying which places would mandate stations, as well as the LRT's accessibility.[24] In August 2020, construction was planned to finish in 2023 and operations to begin in early 2024.[14]: 8  However, there have been no major developments in 2024, leading to skepticism on the government's commitment regarding the project. Rahman Syah of Kompasiana [id] noted several challenges: a lack of planning on the station locations and integration with the BRT network, as well as Medan's unaccomodating density.[4]

Infrastructure

The LRT's rolling stock will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h.[25] In accordance with Pandjaitan's request on utilizing mostly local components, the traction motor was planned as a joint production by Pindad and Bombardier Transportation, with the aluminium bogie by Inalum. Industri Kereta Api would oversee the production of the traction motor, as well as create the carriages.[26] With 20 units, it cost Rp 488.016 billion.[14]: 7  One vehicle will be able to capacitate 200-300 passengers, with 20-25% seated.[1]

All stations will be infill and elevated,[27][28] with the tracks spanning 41.3 kilometres (25.7 miles) in total.[14]: 5  The LRT was initially announced to comprise 22 stations from the southwest to northeast of Medan, forming one line.[29] Later, however, it was expanded to three:[8]

  • Line 1: Medan to Sport Center Batang Kuis station (spanning 20 kilometres (12 miles))
  • Line 2: Aksara to Lau Cih station (spanning 17.21 kilometres (10.69 miles))
  • Line 3: Pancing to Cemara station (spanning 3.37 kilometres (2.09 miles))

The stations were also reduced to 17.[14]: 7  A train depot will also be built at Lau Cih station.[30] The budget for the stations, tracks, depot, and other operation facilities altogether create a budget of Rp 16.9 trillion.[14]: 7 

TOD was taken into account in selecting the station locations.[3] The termini was initially planned to be Medan and Universitas Medan station, but this was later cancelled. Other stations include: RS Adam Malik, Sekolah Siti Hajar, Santo Thomas, Ring Road, Pasar II, Perumahan Setiabudi, Raz Plaza, USU Pintu IV, RS USU, Iskandar Muda, Kampung Madras, RS Malahayati, Walikota, Lapangan Merdeka, Podomoro City, Hotel Grand Angkasa, RS Pringadi, Masjid 45, Al Amin Faisal Tanjung, and Aksara station.[29] Later, Cemara, Sport Center Batang Kuis and Pancing station were also announced. Many of these stations are located next to (and named after) hospitals, universities, and shopping malls.[8]

While the routes saw positive reception by many citizens of Medan, those whose properties are affected by the construction were critical on the project. Government officials conducted private negotiations with those whose homes would have to be destroyed to make way for the LRT; those who perist in objecting to the project were given 14 days to file a lawsuit.[31] Meanwhile, transportation analyst Deddy Herlambang advised that the government design the route in a way that would not affect the streets, to avoid cumbersome rerouting as experienced when constructing the Palembang LRT.[32]

In addition, General Director of PT Medan Metropolitan Monorel, Kaspan Eka Putra, also devised an extension spanning 61.59 kilometres (38.27 miles) comprising three phases. It begins in the city of Tanjung Morawa, entering the Medan district of Amplas and moving to the area of SM Raja road before ending at MT Haryono road (21.7 kilometres (13.5 miles)). Phase two continues to the roads of Wahidin, Aksara, Willem Iskandar, and then entering the housing complex Cemara Asri (9.81 kilometres (6.10 miles)). Phase three begins at the Centre Point mall, continuing to Yos Sudarso road, Brayan, and then Marelan (11.61 kilometres (7.21 miles)). The last phase spans the City Hall and the roads of Iskandar Muda, Setia Budi, Ring Road, and Gatot Subroto, terminating at Sunggal 18.47 kilometres (11.48 miles).[15]

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ Conversion done in 2017.

References

  1. ^ a b "Rancang Bangun Teknis LRT". Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Wijaya, Janu (17 December 2018). Pembangunan LRT di KOta Medan [Construction of LRT in Medan CIty] (YouTube video) (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b Ahmad, Muhammad Choirul (30 May 2021). "Medan Bakal Punya LRT, Ini Bocoran dari Menhub" [Medan to Have LRT, Ministry of Transportation Talks About It]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Jakarta. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Syah, Ramlan (1 November 2024). "Masa Depan LRT Kota Medan berada di 'Pundak' Calon Kepala Daerah" [Future of Medan City LRT at the 'Shoulders' of Mayoral Candidates]. Kompasiana (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  5. ^ Leandha, Mei (5 October 2017). Alexander, Hilda B. (ed.). "Diprediksi Macet Total 2024, Medan Harus Bangun LRT" [Predictions of Total Congestion by 2024 Prompts Medan LRT]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Medan. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Alfi, Azizah Nur (29 January 2020). Rustam, Agus (ed.). "Sumut Siapkan Dokumen Teknis LRT Mebidangro" [North Sumatra Prepares Technical Document for Mebidangro LRT]. Bisnis Indonesia. Medan: Jurnalindo Aksara Grafika. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b Alfi, Azizah Nur (11 May 2020). Hana, Oktaviano D.B. (ed.). "Ada Pandemi Covid-19, Sumut Lanjutkan Rencana LRT Mebidangro" [North Sumatra Continues LRT Mebidangro Planning in the Wake of Covid-19]. Bisnis Indonesia (in Indonesian). Medan: Jurnalindo Aksara Grafika. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Light Rail Transit Mebidang" (in Indonesian). North Sumatra Invest. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  9. ^ Murti, Tri (7 May 2017). "LRT Segera Dibangun di Medan" [LRT to be Built in Medan] (in Indonesian). Medan: BeritaSatu. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. ^ Simorangkir, Eduardo (6 June 2017). "Membentang 22,74 Km, LRT Medan Bakal Telan Dana Rp 6,3 Triliun" [Spanning 22.74km, Rp 6.3 Billion to be Spent at Medan LRT] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  11. ^ Purba, David Oliver, ed. (27 June 2019). "Pengerjaan Proyek LRT Sumut Direncanakan Dimulai 2020" [North Sumatra LRT Project Planned for 2020]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  12. ^ Yasmin, Puti Aini (28 June 2018). "Medan bakal Punya LRT, Mulai Dibangun 2020" [Medan to Have LRT, Construction Begins 2020] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  13. ^ Yasmin, Puti Aini (26 June 2018). "Biaya Proyek LRT Medan Rencananya Tak Bebani APBN" [Medan LRT Budgeting to Not Burden State Budget] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "LRT Mebidang Development Project by PPP Scheme in North Sumatera Province" (PDF) (Press release). Medan: North Sumatra Invest. August 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  15. ^ a b Riva (22 March 2018). "LRT Mebidang Solusi Kemacetan Lalu Lintas" [Mebidang LRT Solution to Traffic Jam]. Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Utara. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  16. ^ Leandha, Mei (20 April 2017). Jatmiko, Bambang Priyo (ed.). "SMRT Singapura Akan Investasi LRT di Wilayah Medan" [SMRT Singapore to Invest in Medan LRT]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ^ Gunawan, Apriadi (19 July 2018). "China, South Korea Show Interest in North Sumatra LRT Project". The Jakarta Post. Medan: Bina Media Tenggara. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  18. ^ Gunawan, Apriadi (21 June 2019). "North Sumatra invites South Korean firm to build LRT connecting 4 cities". The Jakarta Post. Medan: Bina Media Tenggara. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  19. ^ Gideon, Arthur (21 July 2018). "IMF dan Bank Dunia Ingin Kembangkan LRT di Medan, Bandung dan Surabaya" [IMF and World Back Wants to Work on LRTs in Medan, Bandung and Surabaya]. Liputan 6 (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  20. ^ Yasmin, Puti Aini (26 July 2018). "Luhut Minta LRT Medan Pakai Komponen Lokal 60%, Bappeda: Ada Inka" [Luhut Requests for Medan LRT to Utilize 60% of Local Components, Sub-National Development Planning Agency: There is Inka] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  21. ^ Yasmin, Puti Aini (27 July 2018). "LRT Medan Harus 60% Konten Lokal, Begini Kesiapan Inka" [Medan LRT Must Utilize 60% of Local Contents, Here is How Inka is Preparing] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  22. ^ Rifzaldi, Riffi (5 April 2018). "Konsultasi Publik Pemko Medan untuk Proyek BRT dan LRT" [Medan City Government Consults Public on BRT and LRT Projects]. Tagar.id (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  23. ^ Simorangkir, Eduardo (6 June 2017). "Konstruksi LRT Medan Dimulai 2019" [Medan LRT Construction to Begin 2019] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  24. ^ Kusuma, Hendra (7 June 2017). "Bangun LRT Medan, Swasta Kerjakan Konstruksi Pemda Siapkan Tanah" [Constructing Medan LRT, Private Companies Build While Regional Government Prepare Land] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  25. ^ Simorangkir, Eduardo. "Dibangun 2019, Ini Rencana Rute yang Dilewati LRT Medan" (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  26. ^ Yasmin, Puti Aini (27 July 2018). "Gandeng Pindad, INKA Mau Bikin Mesin LRT Medan" [With Pindad, INKA to Create Engine for Medan LRT] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  27. ^ Naipospos, Hendrik (11 May 2017). "Tahun 2020 Medan Bakal Punya LRT dan BRT, Ini Perkiraan Rute yang Akan Dilalui" [Medan to Have LRT and BRT by 2020, Here are the Planned Routes]. Tribun News (in Indonesian). Medan. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  28. ^ Yasmin, Puti Aini (27 July 2018). "Mau Dibangun Mulai 2020, Ini Rute LRT Medan" [To be Constructed Starting 2020, Here is the Route of Medan LRT] (in Indonesian). detik.com. Jakarta: Trans Media. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Peluang Investasi Pembangunan LRT dan BRT" [Potential of Investing Towards LRT and BRT] (PDF). Bappeda Kota Medan. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Depo LRT dan Terminal Angkutan akan Dibangun di Lau Chi" [LRT Depot and Cargo Terminal to be Built at Lau Chi]. Analisa. Medan: Media Warta Kencana. 24 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  31. ^ Suranto; Ardan, Melloukey; Wulandari, Tika Ermita; Hasibuan, Samsul A. Rahman Sidik (29 August 2022). "Kajian Perencanaan Rute pada Proyek Pembangunan LRT (Light Rail Transit) Medan" [Analysis of the Route Planning for the Construction Project of the Medan LRT (Light Rail Transit)]. Journal of Civil Engineering Building and Transportation (in Indonesian). 6 (2). State University of Medan: 189–190. ISSN 2549-6387. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  32. ^ Saputra, Dany (1 December 2022). "Ini Kiat Biar MRT dan LRT di Medan hingga Bali Tak Sepi Penumpang" [Tips for High Frequency on MRTs and LRTs from Medan to Bali]. Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.