Revolutionizing Southeast Asia: Indonesia Unveils Groundbreaking Bullet Train Project
Indonesia's groundbreaking $73 billion bullet train project revolutionizes transportation, linking Jakarta to Bandung in West Java, marking Southeast Asia's first high-speed rail connection
Indonesia is gearing up to inaugurate Southeast Asia's inaugural bullet train on Sunday. This high-speed rail service will connect two of the nation's largest cities.
As part of China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, this $7.3 billion project is primarily funded by Chinese state-owned firms. The public will have access to this monumental transportation development starting on Sunday.
The train will operate between Jakarta, the capital city, and Bandung, a major arts and culture hub in West Java, which is the second-largest city in Indonesia.
Known as WHOOSH, the high-speed rail line spans 86 miles (138 kilometers). The acronym stands for "time saving, optimal operation, reliable system" in Indonesian. It operates on electricity, resulting in zero direct carbon emissions. Officials claim that the train can achieve speeds of approximately 217 miles per hour, significantly reducing the travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from three hours to less than one hour.
Operated by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (PT KCIC), the high-speed train commutes between the Halim railway station in East Jakarta and the Padalarang railway station in West Bandung, with convenient access to public transport stations.
Officially adapted for Indonesia's tropical climate, the trains are equipped with a safety system that can effectively respond to earthquakes, floods, and other emergency situations.
The high-speed line is being considered for extension to Surabaya, an important port and the capital of East Java Province, according to Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, director of PT KCIC, in a ceremony earlier in September. Furthermore, stops in other major cities such as Semarang and Yogyakarta, which is the gateway to Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple, are also under consideration, as mentioned by Dwiyana.
Passengers sit at the Halim station in Jakarta.
Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
According to information released by PT KCIC, the railway features eight cars - all equipped with Wi-Fi and USB charging points - and seats601 passengers.
Three categories of seats will be available - first class, second class, and VIP.
Indonesia, the fourth-largest country in the world and the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has actively and openly sought investment from China, its largest trade and investment partner.
A series of projects was announced during a high-profile meeting in July between Indonesian leader Joko Widodo and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. These projects include the construction of a multi-billion dollar Chinese glass factory on the island of Rempang in the Riau Islands Archipelago of Indonesia, as part of a new Eco-City. However, this announcement has triggered intense protests from indigenous islanders who strongly oppose the demolition of their villages.
Indonesia's outgoing President Joko Widodo rides the high-speed railway during a test ride in Jakarta.
Akbar Nugroho Gumay/AP
Widodo and Chinese Premier Li Qiang were captured on camera test riding the newly-built high-speed railway multiple times in September.
The initial agreement for the train project was inked in 2015 under China's Belt and Road Initiative, and subsequently, construction commenced later the same year.
The project was originally slated for completion in 2019, but various operational delays have arisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic, land procurement challenges, and increasing costs.
PT KCIC's director, Dwiyana, lauded the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway as an exceptional demonstration of bilateral collaboration between Indonesia and China. Not only will it enhance Indonesian infrastructure, but it will also foster the advancement of the country's railway and manufacturing sectors.
