Tanjung Balai to Medan

Tanjung Balai sits where the Asahan river meets the Strait of Malacca, and its station is the end of the line for North Sumatra's east coast railway. The Putri Deli is the only passenger train serving it, and it takes just over four hours to cover the roughly 175km back to Medan.

The service: three trains a day leave Tanjung Balai for Medan. The first goes mid-morning and reaches Medan around lunchtime; the last leaves in the evening and gets in close to midnight. The train is ekonomi only, with face-to-face seating and a low subsidised fare. It is one of the busiest routes in North Sumatra, especially around Lebaran, so book ahead in Access by KAI.

The route: the train heads inland on the branch to Kisaran, joins the main line from Rantau Prapat, and runs north-west through oil palm and rubber estates to Tebing Tinggi, then on via Perbaungan and Lubuk Pakam into Medan station in the city centre. It is a working journey through plantation country rather than a scenic one.

Before you board: Tanjung Balai station is in the Teluk Nibung port area. It was built by the Deli Railway Company in 1915 to carry estate produce to the ships, and traces of its old roundhouse and water tower survive behind the walls.

Onward from Medan: Medan station is also the terminus for the airport trains, so you can change onto the Medan to Kualanamu Airport service. For the outbound journey see Medan to Tanjung Balai, and for the inland branch towards Lake Toba see Medan to Pematangsiantar.