During the seminar held on September 5th 2024, at the Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University (SPs UGM), Mr. Febry Pandu Wijaya, General Manager of Research and Development at PT Industri Kereta Api (PT INKA), as the speaker, provided a presentation on “Technological Innovation Development for Railway Systems.”
PT INKA has achieved significant milestones by exporting trains to various countries such as Singapore, Philippines, and recently to New Zealand. Due to the high demand for train production, the factory in Madiun often falls short. PT INKA plans to operate a new factory in Banyuwangi, which is expected to enhance production capacity and meet both domestic and export needs to fulfill this demand.
In his presentation, Mr. Febry highlighted the technological challenges that the railway industry will face in the future. These challenges include the use of alternative energy resources, real-time passenger information, and the development of driverless trains.
PT INKA is committed in delivering future trains that are smart, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient. A key focus is the development of LRT Jabodetabek and MRT, with the assurance that the produced products are reliable.
PT INKA acknowledges that there is still room for further development. Therefore, PT INKA regularly engages in knowledge sharing with peers and maintains discussions with academics from various universities. It is hoped that in the future, new workforce members with specialized competencies will fill positions, especially in developing innovative products.
Additionally, PT INKA sees great opportunities in the development of railway infrastructure in Indonesia, such as the MRT phase 2 project. To meet this need, PT INKA has a strategy involving both internal efforts and the recruitment of external experts.
Mr. Febry also highlighted several innovative achievements of PT INKA, including the development of the Driverless Train (GoA3), which is more suitable for the future; the development of a new generation of KRL, mostly completed in Madiun and Banyuwangi; and the development of the Merah Putih high-speed train, which has been ongoing since 2018 and is a key milestone for PT INKA.
Through technological innovation and strengthened collaboration, PT INKA is committed to advancing and making a tangible contribution to the progress of the railway industry in Indonesia.
Author : Arfikah Istari