JAKARTA, Indonesia — Passenger service commenced for Indonesia’s first high speed rail service on Oct. 2, 2023. The 140-kilometer (87-mile) route connects Jakarta and Bandung, the country’s capital and a popular tourist destination, respectively.
The Nikkei Asia reports that the new eight-car WHOOSH train — an acronym for “Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Hebat,” meaning “timesaving, optimal operation, great system” in Indonesian – can carry600 passengers while maintaining speeds up to 350 kilometers per hour (217 mph). Rail travel time between the two cities has been cut to approximately one hour.
The Jakarta-Bandung route was constructed and is operated by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (PT KCIC), a partnership between four Indonesian state companies involving China Railway International Co. Ltd. As part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the project was initially set for a 2019 completion with a total cost of approximately [U.S.] $5.5 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic was reported to have delayed the project with a cost overrun estimated up to $7.5 billion.
Despite the setbacks, officials expect a positive economic impact in the long term. “The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train marks the modernization of our mass transportation,” Indonesia President Joko Widodo said during the Oct. 2 opening ceremony at Halim station in Jakarta, as reported by Nikkei Asia. “Our experience in building infrastructure… has given us the experience and provisions to create better outcomes in the future.”
Built in China by CRRC Qingdao Sifang, the 11 KCIC400AF high-speed trains intended for the Indonesian line are derived from the CR400AF for the Chinese rail network. And like the latter, the new Java line is standard gauge and electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
I am sure Terry is spot on and not just in CA, you could add Texas to that as well.
Let’s see. Anearlier comment noted
Things that make you say “Hmmmm”
87 miles in 1 hour but a max speed of 217 mph. Does that sound right?
Just waiting for China to club Indonesia in the head with this. I’m sure someone is making payments to China. Just wait until they can’t make the payments.
So the line is 87 miles long, and the speed is up to ‘350 kilometers per hour’…and the trip takes 1 hour. So the average speed is just 87 mph? Just wondering how many miles of the 87 is truly high-speed.
Another newcomer to the prestigious HST Club.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Meanwhile back in the good old U.S.of A. ……
You’ve got a point there.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Despite being billions over budget and years behind schedule — still completed much better than the Central Valley segment of the California High Speed Rail Project! 😀
I have a feeling that property owners opposed to giving up their land have rather fewer opportunities to impede projects in Indonesia than they do here in California…