The 23-kilometre (14 mi) link was established using existing and new rail tracks. An existing line between Duku railway station and Padang was upgraded. This was then connected to a new 3.9-kilometre (2.4 mi) track between Duku and the airport. All land acquisitions were done in March 2017.[3][4]
The service is provided by PT Kereta Api Indonesia, with trains running between Padang–Tabing [id]–Duku–Minangkabau International Airport. The rolling stock was manufactured by INKA.
Rolling Stock
This train uses a KRDE ME 204 trainset made by PT INKA as well as Adisumarmo Airport Rail Link and Yogyakarta International Airport Rail Link and is also the first trainset for the KRDE series and then followed by the next trainset for other Airport Trains. This series of trains consists of four trains with a carrying capacity of up to 393 people.[5]
Fee
This train fare is IDR 10,000.00 for the BIM–Duku and BIM–Aie Island routes and IDR 5,000.00 for the Duku–Aie Island route and vice versa.
Operation
Minangkabau Express at Pulau Aie Station
Starting 6 March 2019, Minangkabau Express experienced an increase in schedule at night, schedule changes and began to stop at several stops along the route passed, except for Lubuk Buaya. The change in the train schedule also aims to facilitate transit with Anai Rail Bus via Duku Station for passengers who want to travel to Kayu Tanam Station.[6]
Along with the reactivation of the Padang-Pulau Air railway line, the Minangkabau Express train journey has been extended to Pulau Air Station on 10 February 2021 to support tourism in the Kota Tua area in Kampung Pondok, West Padang, Padang.[7] In addition, the train will stop at a new station building at Padang Station specifically for this Airport Train. Since the extension of the relationship to Pulau Aie Station, the train returned to Padang Station after finishing service at night and then sent the train to Pulau Aie Station before the start of the train service in the morning.[8]
