Indonesians embrace public test ride of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Purwakarta, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Indonesia now officially has its very first high-speed train, with President Joko Widodo inaugurating the train operation on Oct. 2.

by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani

JAKARTA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Halim Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) in Indonesia's capital city Jakarta was fully packed on Thursday afternoon by passengers participating in the public test ride named "Whoosh Experience Program."

Among them was Ridho Alfianantha Putra, a 22-year-old medical student from Bandung, West Java province. He told Xinhua that he had been waiting for a long time for the operation of the first high-speed train in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

He said he would regularly take the high-speed train when he returned home to Bandung.

"This is a very significant progress for the country. I once tried similar high-speed trains in China and Japan, which were very time-efficient. I'm glad that Indonesia now has one. I think I will shift from conventional train to high-speed one to go to and from Bandung," he said.

Another passenger, Dona Rahma Dina, 27 years old, brought her two-year-old daughter to experience the train. Describing the train as very comfortable for kids, she said she would take it every time she and her family go to Bandung for vacation.

"Previously, we always took conventional trains, or sometimes my husband drove a car. But I think this high-speed train can be the best option," said the Jakarta resident.

Indonesia now officially has its very first high-speed train, with President Joko Widodo inaugurating the train operation on Oct. 2.

The Indonesian Transportation Ministry issued an operating license on Sept. 29 to PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese firms that constructs and runs the HSR.

The 142.3 km long high-speed line, connecting Jakarta and the fourth largest city Bandung, is a flagship project that synergizes the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy.

This photo taken on Aug. 17, 2023 shows high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) trains of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Bandung, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

The HSR has opened a test ride free for the public since Sept. 18 and has attracted a lot of people to participate. The free test ride will be available until mid-October.

During the trial, passengers could freely choose their seats, with three-or two-person formation seats available. The trip from Halim Station in Jakarta to Tegalluar Station in Bandung only takes 46 minutes.

A number of high-level officials and public figures have also taken part in the test ride. One of them was Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, who joined the free test ride on Sept. 25.

"This cooperation has really given real advantages for ASEAN countries. We hope to increase our cooperation with China so that we all can create more and more benefits for the people in this region," Hourn said.

During the inauguration of the HSR, President Widodo said that the train had marked the modernization of Indonesia's transportation mode because it was a new thing for the country in terms of technology, speed, the construction process and the payment system.

The HSR could bring various benefits to Indonesia, particularly job opportunities for local communities, Coordinate Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said.

The high-speed train is now preparing to be integrated with other public transportation in the Southeast Asian country, including the Light Rail Transit station, TransJakarta and Jaklingko.