It was a railway project of two parties in two different times, Staatsspoorwegen ter Sumatra's Westkust in the Dutch East Indies era and Rikuyu Sokyuku of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War.

[2][3] Currently only the Muarakalaban–Muaro portion of the railway still exists, though the line and stations are inactive; those assets were owned by Regional Division II West Sumatra of Kereta Api Indonesia.

[7] The railway segments from Muaro were cancelled in 1930 as not economically viable, and remained unbuilt until World War II.

[9] Between 24 and 30 August 1945, the conscripted workers and prisoners of war were transported back to Pekanbaru where they learned about the surrender.

"[3] Download coordinates as: The Muaro–Pekanbaru railway was never fully utilised and remains unused and in an advanced state of decay.

[2] The memorial's unveiling was attended by former prisoners of war, the Japanese ambassador to Britain (Sadayuki Hayashi) and included a peace stone and the planting of flowering trees to symbolise reconciliation.