Indonesia has launched Southeast Asia's first high-speed rail line capable of speeds up to 350 km/h, improving transportation connectivity between the country's major cities.
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| President Joko Widodo expressed his joy and pride at this major milestone in Indonesia's transportation sector. (Source: Xinhua) |
The inauguration ceremony on October 1st was attended by President Joko Widodo, First Lady Irana, cabinet ministers, and several media outlets.
In his opening remarks, President Widodo expressed pride in the first high-speed train in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, capable of reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h, marking the modernization of Indonesia's transportation system.
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| The Whoosh high-speed rail project is seen as a symbol of the Indonesia-China bilateral relationship and promises to open up new opportunities for cooperation between the two sides. (Source: Xinhua News Agency) |
Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordination Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that, with the coordinated cooperation between all levels of government, state-owned and private enterprises, and the Chinese government, Indonesia's high-speed rail project has been successfully completed and is now operational. Furthermore, China has agreed to transfer technology so that Jakarta can domestically produce high-speed trains in the future.
The ship's official name is Whoosh, which in Indonesian means fast, efficient, and reliable. Notably, the ship is electric and produces zero carbon emissions.
The train has a total of 8 carriages with a capacity of up to 601 passengers, divided into 3 classes: first class, second class, and VIP. All carriages are equipped with Wi-Fi and USB ports. From October 3rd to October 16th, the train system will be operational and passengers will receive free tickets. From October 17th onwards, people will have to start buying tickets.
The railway line spans 86 miles (138 km) and takes only one hour to travel from Halim Station in East Jakarta to Padalarang Station in West Bandung, West Java. This will contribute to promoting people-to-people exchanges and developing key sectors such as trade, tourism, and education.
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| Many Indonesians are eager to experience a journey on Southeast Asia's fastest high-speed train. (Source: Xinhua News Agency) |
As part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the $7.3 billion project was signed by the two governments in 2015 and construction began later that year, with completion expected in 2019.
However, due to numerous problems, ranging from land acquisition disputes and environmental issues to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project has been delayed. Project costs have skyrocketed from 66.7 trillion Rupiah (US$4.3 billion) to 113 trillion Rupiah (US$7.3 billion).
The state-owned joint venture PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (PT KCIC) is responsible for the project's construction. The company has applied various technologies to help the ship adapt to Indonesia's tropical climate and respond to emergencies such as earthquakes and floods. Therefore, this can be seen as a remarkable achievement in Indonesia-China cooperation.
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| WHOOSH impresses with its sleek and elegant design, providing passengers with a feeling of both safety and excitement. (Source: Xinhua News Agency) |
According to Chinese state media, Indonesia and China are negotiating to extend the railway line to Surabaya, East Java province. The train would then pass through other major cities such as Semarang and Yogyakarta.
China is one of the major investors in Southeast Asian countries. Besides Indonesia, Beijing also collaborated with Laos on the construction of a semi-high-speed railway connecting the two countries. The project was completed in December 2021.
The train, with speeds up to 160 km/h, runs on a 1,035 km (643 mile) route and helps Vientiane connect to Kunming, a city in southeastern China, via transportation.
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