Jakarta to Bandung in one hour: Indonesia’s new high-speed train completes first trial run

An inspection train preparing to depart for the first trial run of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail, in Jakarta's Halim Station, on May 23. - ST

JAKARTA (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Indonesia’s first high-speed train linking capital Jakarta and Bandung – the country’s fourth-most populous city – completed a trial run at 180kmh on Monday (May 22), reaching its destination in just an hour.

The first of a series of comprehensive trials that will see rail speeds gradually rise to 385kmh in the coming weeks, Monday’s train ride already more than halved the typical 2½-hour car journey between the two cities.