PT Industri Kereta Api Indonesia (PT Inka), Indonesia’s state-owned rolling stock manufacturer, held a groundbreaking ceremony on 2 April for a new rolling stock plant in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. The new plant is developed under partnership with Stadler Rail Group a Swiss manufacturer of railway rolling stock, with an investment of IDR 1.6 trillion (USD 112.4 million). Stadler will be supplying technology and machinery while PT Inka will provide investment for land and buildings.
The facility will produce four train cars daily, which is four times the capacity of PT Inka’s existing factory in Madiun in East Java.
The plant is expected to start production in 2020. Around 2,000 people are expected to work in the new facility. PT Inka will cooperate with the local government to establish a training program at Banyuwangi Polytechnic. Some of the workers will also participate in an internship program in Switzerland.
The production of the plant will be for the overseas market. PT Inka plans to produce locomotive and rolling stock for markets such as Bangladesh, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, while Stadler will fulfil orders coming in from Singapore, Australia and Taiwan. PT Inka has already secured an order worth USD 100 million from the Sri Lankan government for 250 train cars.
(Sources: Rail Journal; Railway Technology)
