President Joko Widodo recently officiated a high-speed railway project worth Rp113 billion, connecting Jakarta and Bandung. This 142-kilometer railway is a key part of President Jokowi’s infrastructure agenda and associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This project has came across many challenges, such as land acquisition problems, pandemic-related delays, and escalating costs. The launch of the bullet train, namely “WHOOSH” which stands for “Waktu Hemat Operasi Optimal Sistem Hebat”, took place much later than the original target of 2019. According to Jokowi, the train’s name is inspired by the sound of a speeding high-speed train. He emphasized its potential to modernize environmentally friendly mass transportation, with a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour (217 mph). Prior to its official opening, authorities conducted public trials for the 142-kilometer high-speed route.
Jokowi has confirmed that he will not provide tariff subsidies for KCJB. He admits that he is not yet certain about the exact fare to be set and has delegated this matter to PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC).Meanwhile, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) has proposed WHOOSH train fares ranging from Rp250,000 to Rp350,000 for a single journey. KCIC GM Corporate Secretary, Eva Chairunisa, mentioned that the proposed fares of Rp250,000 to Rp350,000 apply to three classes: premium economy, business, and first class. However, Eva stated that they have only submitted this proposal to the government and are still in the process of calculation, so the exact fare for the high-speed train cannot be confirmed at this time.
Source: cnnindonesia.com, thejakartapost.com
