Indonesian president declares operation of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) presses a button signifying the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) during a ceremony at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

JAKARTA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning.

At the ceremony, Widodo said the HSR, with a speed of 350 km per hour, is the first high-speed train in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, marking the modernization of Indonesia's transportation mode.

He announced the name of the HSR, "Whoosh," inspired by the sound of the train, and declared that "Whoosh" was ready to be operated.

Representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, China Railway International Group, and PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC) attended the ceremony.

The Indonesian Transportation Ministry issued an operating license to the KCIC last Friday, a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese firms that constructs and runs the HSR.

The high-speed line, spanning 142.3 km and connecting Indonesia's capital city Jakarta and the 4th largest city Bandung, is a flagship project that synergizes the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy, and also a signature project of pragmatic cooperation between China and Indonesia.

It was the first time that Chinese railway systems, technology and industrial components were fully used in HSR construction project overseas. 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) signs during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Crew members of a high-speed train head for the platform at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Crew members of a high-speed train greet passengers and guests at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Padalarang, Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Passengers pose for photos aboard a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Passengers aboard a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway take photos and videos of a display panel showing the train's speed exceeding 350 kilometers per hour in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

A train crew member walks in a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

A train attendant walks in a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Passengers explore how well a coin can balance itself on the windowsill of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Purwakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

A high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway stops at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) presses a button signifying the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway during a ceremony at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

Dancers stage a performance to welcome participants of a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

A crew member of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway greets passengers and guests at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

High-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway stop at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) receives a salute from a crew member of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

Crew members pose for photos with a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

A high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is seen at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

This photo taken on Oct. 2, 2023 shows an interior view of Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Crew members of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway greet passengers and guests at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

High-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway are seen at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)