The Cirebon Prujakan–Semarang Tawang railway () is a railway line that connects Cirebon Prujakan and Semarang Tawang that opened in 1897-1899 then continued to and . This route crosses on province with 6 regencies or cities, namely Cirebon, Brebes Regency, Tegal Regency, Pemalang, Pekalongan, and Semarang.

This lines part of the -- railway line, also the busiest intercity and commuter line between Cikampek, Cirebon, and Semarang due Double-track railway. This line is included in Operational Area III Cirebon on the –Cirebon Prujakan segment, while Operational Area IV Semarang on the –Semarang Tawang segment. This line is developed by the Class I Bandung Railway Engineering Center on the Cirebon Prujakan– segment and Semarang on the –Semarang Tawang segment.

This route connects Jakarta and West Java with Central Java and East Java. However, the main route from to Surabaya () is the southern route of Java Island via . This route includes the most diverse views, ranging from paddy fields, city centers, teak forests, to seaside views in the area between Pekalongan-Semarang.

The entire railway line was built by the Semarang–Cheribon Stoomtram Maatschappij (SCS) in collaboration with other companies, including the Staatsspoorwegen (SS) and the Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS). Based on the construction history, the line started from Semarang SCS Station, while was later built to replace it.

History Steam Tramway

In 1884, a Semarang Tawang–Cirebon Prujakan railway concession was proposed by Mr. Ruyl et al. (besluit dated 23 February 1884 No. 8). However, this concession couldn't be realized. After several years without news, Mr. Ruyl et al. were given a one-year extension to begin implementing the Semarang Tawang–Cirebon Prujakan line concession. The extension was implemented on 1 July 1891, at the urging of Minister Baron Mackay, who was asked to immediately complete the interest guarantee application. However, this concession was finally rejected a year later after considering the results of consultations with Minister Van Dedem. The cancellation of Ruyl's concession (besluit September 1893 No. 12), the guarantee capital of ƒ250,000 previously paid to the State was cancelled; it was returned to the concession holder.

A new concession proposal was then submitted by the Financiëele Maatschappij van Nijverheidsondernemingen, which was approved by decree No. 1 dated December 1893. The Semarang–Cheribon Stoomtram Maatschappij (SCS) was formed. SCS took over the concession and immediately began construction, so that of the total length of the line of 245.5 km, the first segment of 29.7 km (18.4 mil) to Kendal was completed on 2 May 1897. Work continued on both sides (Cirebon Prujakan and Semarang Tawang). The last segment connecting Pekalongan and Pemalang (33.8 km (21 mil)) was opened to public traffic on 1 February 1899.

In detail, the opening dates for each segment are as follows:

Semarang West (Pendrikan)–Kaliwungu–Kendal segment, opened 2 May 1897 Kendal–Kalibodri–Weleri segment, opened 1 November 1897 Weleri–Pekalongan segment, opened 1 December 1898 Pekalongan–Pemalang segment, opened 1 February 1899 Pemalang–Tegal segment, opened 23 June 1898 Tegal–Brebes segment, opened 15 November 1897 Brebes–Losari segment, opened 8 May 1898 Losari–Ciledug segment, opened 10 October 1897 Ciledug–Sindanglaut segment, opened 8 July 1897 Sindanglaut–Mundu–Cirebon SCS segment, opened 1 May 1897

Becoming a heavy railway line With the increasing need for rail service on the Cirebon–Semarang route, SCS changed the status of its steam tramway to a railway. SCS submitted a proposal to the Dutch East Indies Government on 23 March 1909, regarding the planned conversion of the steam tramway to a railway so that the Batavia–Semarang train could be completed in one day. However, this project began in 1911, so when the Cikampek–Cirebon Prujakan railway line was completed, the conversion project was still incomplete. Part of the railway line was rerouted so that faster and heavier trains could pass without disrupting the Pantura Highway. This allowed the old 245 km (152 mil) line to be shortened to just 222 km (137 mil). The construction of the shortcut line included:

Kalibodri–Kaliwungu no via Kendal, opened 1 January 1914 Mundu–Losari segment, opened 1 May 1915.

Segments that had existed since the 1890s were later turned into branch lines, or even no longer used by the SCS (see Bedilan–Waruduwur railway line and Kalibodri–Kendal–Kaliwungu railway line). On 1 November 1914, SCS is exploring a partnership with Staatsspoorwegen (SS) to open a Semarang–Batavia round trip train, in connection with the completion of the line to Cirebon Port and the connection between Cirebon SS and Cirebon SCS.

In addition to building new lines, we are also arranging the stations, with the following details:'

Construction of , opened 6 August 1914, eliminating Semarang SCS Station (Pendrikan). Arrangement of the emplacement and construction of Cirebon Prujakan Station, opened 1 November 1914. Construction of Tegal Station, opened 1 May 1918.

The connection between Semarang NIS Station (Tawang) and Semarang SCS (Poncol) couldn't be implemented yet, even though they were close together. The connection was only realized on 4 January 1941. This connection aimed to integrate the SCS line with the NIS and SJS lines.

Double-track Project Construction of the double track on this line began in 2002. The first segment was the Brebes–Tegal Station segment which opened on 15 December 2003. Next, This project was continued in 2007, with the construction of the Petarukan to Pemalang route. This project was budgeted for 2007 and tested on 30 October 2008 and continued to Tegal in 2009. On 9 September 2009, The Tegal to Pekalongan railway line was finally inaugurated by the President of Indonesia at that time, SBY.

The progress of the double track construction continued in 2012-2013, with a total land acquisition of 1,165,395 square meters. Construction of this line includes replacing rails, sleepers, and grading the hill in Plabuan. The details of the completion of this double track are as follows:

Losari–Waruduwur operated starting 17 June 2013 Pekalongan–Ujungnegoro operated starting 3 July 2013 Waruduwur–Cirebon Prujakan operated starting 4 July 2013 Weleri–Kaliwungu operated starting 21 November 2013 Brebes–Losari operated starting 10 December 2013 Kaliwungu– Jerakah operated starting 11 December 2013 Semarang Poncol–Semarang Tawang operated starting 7 February 2014 Ujungnegoro–Weleri operated starting 14 March 2014 Jerakah–Semarang Poncol operated starting 28 March 2014

The total length of the doubled Pantura line reached 727 km (451 mil). The project was finally completed in 2014 at a cost of Rp 9.8 trillion. What's more, the exciting story of the construction of this double track was later documented in the book "Northern Cross Double Track: Acceleration and Benefits," written by Hermanto Dwiatmoko, the Director General of Railways at the time.

Service Here's that train passing at Cirebon-Semarang Executive class Argo Bromo Anggrek, between Gambir and Surabaya Pasarturi Sembrani, between Gambir and Surabaya Pasarturi Argo Muria and Argo Sindoro, between Gambir and Semarang Tawang Argo Merbabu, between Gambir and Semarang Tawang Pandalungan, between Gambir and Jember via Argo Anjasmoro, between Gambir and Surabaya Pasarturi (facultative only) Brawijaya, between Gambir and Malang via

Mixed class Gumarang, between and (economy and executive) Kertajaya, between and (economy and executive) (addition only) Dharmawangsa Express, between and (economy and executive) Tegal Bahari, between and (economy and executive) Ciremai, between and (economy and executive) Harina, between and (premium economy and executive) Brantas, between and via (economy and executive) Blambangan Express, between and Ketapang (economy and executive) Jayabaya, between and via (economy and executive) Gunungjati train, between , , and (economy and executive) Tawang Jaya and Menoreh, between and (economy and executive)

Economy Kertajaya, between and (premium economy) (regular) Majapahit train, between and via Matarmaja train, between and via Airlangga, between and Maharani, between and Ambarawa Express, between and Blora Jaya Express, between and

Agglomeration rail Kamandaka, between and Joglosemarkerto, loop line Kaligung, between , , , and

Commuter Kedung Sepur, between and

Freight Overnight train service, between and (Northern Parcel) Container Freight, between , , , , Benteng station, and Indocement Cement Freight, between , , , and Kalimas station Container and Steel Coil Freight, between and Kalimas station

See also Rajawali–Cikampek railway Cikampek–Padalarang railway Cikampek–Cirebon Prujakan railway References