KAI Logistik Partners with Bogantara to Expand National Food and Livestock Distribution via Rail

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com — KAI Logistik, a subsidiary of PT Kereta Api Indonesia, has officially entered into a strategic partnership with PT Bogantara Indo Transport through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand national logistics services, particularly in the distribution of agricultural products and livestock.

The agreement marks KAI Logistik’s initial step in developing large-scale distribution services for strategic food commodities via rail transport, a sector that has so far received limited service.

KAI Logistik President Director Yuskal Setiawan said the company is working to provide logistics solutions capable of meeting large-scale multi-commodity shipping demands, including agricultural and livestock resources through its KALOG Plus service.

“This is a new commodity segment that presents significant challenges for us and encourages service innovation, including the development of specialized railcars in the form of modified containers for large-scale transportation,” Yuskal said on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

He explained that in the initial phase, business implementation will focus on transporting livestock, particularly cattle, from East Java to Jakarta, with operational routes running from Ketapang Station in Banyuwangi to Jakarta Gudang Station.

In the future, both companies are also exploring opportunities to expand their partnership into various other food commodities and livestock categories based on market demand.

He expressed hope that the collaboration would improve distribution efficiency and mobility of food commodities from production regions to demand centers, while also strengthening the national food and livestock supply chain. The initiative is considered aligned with Indonesia’s national development agenda in supporting food security.

According to Yuskal, rail transport offers competitive advantages over conventional land transportation such as trucks, particularly in terms of capacity, time efficiency, and sustainability. He noted that a single train carriage is estimated to carry between 14 and 18 cattle, allowing approximately 280 cattle to be transported in a single trip.

Yuskal added that the service offers an estimated delivery time of around 26 hours, shorter than road transportation, which often faces various logistical obstacles.

“A shorter travel duration is a crucial factor for animal welfare, as it helps maintain livestock stability, minimizes stress, and preserves health until arrival at the destination,” he said. “This advantage is also supported by standards of security, safety, punctuality, and green logistics principles,” he added.

As a follow-up measure, KAI Logistik will continue to evaluate and develop its operational system to maintain service quality and safety, while strengthening the role of railways as an efficient, reliable, and sustainable national logistics distribution solution.

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