2-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia celebrated the launch of Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway on Monday (Oct 2), a landmark project supported by China and hailed by President Joko Widodo as a symbol of the country’s modernization.
The “Whoosh” bullet train, with a top speed of 350 km/h, will connect the capital Jakarta with Bandung in just 45 minutes, significantly reducing the travel time compared to the previous three-hour train journey covering the 140km distance.
During a ceremony at Jakarta’s central station, President Widodo proudly declared, “The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train marks our efficient, friendly, and integrated mass transportation system. It is a symbol of our modernization in public transport, seamlessly connecting with other modes of transportation.” He further highlighted that the 600-capacity train is the first high-speed rail transportation system in Southeast Asia.
The project is part of China’s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to enhance infrastructure connectivity across the globe. President Widodo revealed that the name “Whoosh” is actually an acronym representing the train’s key attributes in Bahasa Indonesia, which translate to “Waktu Hemat” (time-saving), “Operasi Optimal” (optimal operation), and “Sistem Handal” (reliable system).
The construction of the high-speed railway was undertaken by PT KCIC, a consortium consisting of four Indonesian state companies and China Railway International Co. Originally planned to be completed by 2019 with a budget of under US$5 billion, the project faced delays due to construction challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in increased costs.
In anticipation of its opening, public trials were conducted to familiarize officials and the public with the new high-speed route. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi confirmed last week that the government plans to extend the high-speed train route from Bandung to Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan recently rode the train during Premier Li’s visit to Jakarta for summits with Southeast Asian leaders. Minister Pandjaitan stated that President Widodo intends to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to experience the train in the future, although specifics were not provided.
