Indonesia has launched its first bullet train, on a high speed rail route that will connect two of its largest cities on Monday, October 2 2023.
The $7.3 billion project, which is part of China’s belt and road infrastructure effort mostly supported by Chinese owned enterprises, opened to the public today after series of delays and setbacks.
The President, Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana, as well as senior cabinet members, attended the opening ceremony at the Halim railway station in Jakarta today.
“The Jakarta-Bandung high speed train is the first train in Indonesia and the first in Southeast Asia, with a speed of 350 kilometers per hour,” Widodo said before sounding the red alarm to signal the beginning of official service.
“With a good teamwork from all parties, including the central government, local government, state-owned enterprises, private sectors and public as well as the Chinese government and its related companies all working together to finish this project,” widodo said.
Indonesia’s coordinating maritime and investment minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on board showed off spacious air, conditioned cabin interiors and clear window views of the Indonesian countryside as the train sped off.
Meanwhile, the new bullet train will run from East Jakarta’s Halim railway station to West Bandung’s Padalarang railway station in West Java.
The 86-mile, 138-kilometer high speed rail line, officially called whoosh which stands for time saving, optimal operation and reliable system in Indonesian runs on electricity with no direct carbon emissions and travels at a speed of approximately 217 miles per hour, cutting travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from three hours to less than an hour.
The railway is well connected to local public transport systems and is overseen by the joint state venture, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, PT KCIC.
Officials stated that the trains, which have been customised for Indonesia’s tropical climate are equipped with a safety system that can respond to earthquakes, floods and other emergency situations.
The PT KCIC director Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, earlier in the month stated that there are discussions to extend the high speed line to Surabaya, a significant port and the capital of East Java Province.
The bullet train would also stop in other significant cities, such as Semarang and Yogyakarta, the entrance to Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple as planned, according to Dwiyana.
Following a statement released by PT KCIC, the railway features eight cars all equipped with Wi-Fi, USB charging points and seats 601 passengers.
There will be three classes of seats first, second and VIP.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth largest country and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has been actively and openly courting investment from China, its largest trade and investment partner.
Widodo, Indonesia’s outgoing president, rides the high-speed train during a test trip in Jakarta.
Throughout September, Widodo and Chinese Premier Li Qiang were pictured taking test rides on the new high-speed train.
The train deal was first signed in 2015 as part of China’s belt and Road Initiative and construction began later that year.
It was initially expected to be completed in 2019 but has faced multiple operational delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as land procurement and ballooning costs.
Dwiyana hailed the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway as an outstanding example of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and China.
“It will not only improve Indonesian infrastructure but promote the development of Indonesia’s railroad and manufacturing industries,” he said
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