JAKARTA: Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, locally known as Whoosh, celebrated its first year of operation on Thursday (Oct 17).
"Whoosh is a result of Chinese innovation, which has made Indonesia more competitive on the global stage, particularly in South-East Asia," Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said during the anniversary celebration in East Jakarta.
"Our drivers have already operated the EMU. Thank you China. We hope that China not only provides us technology for train drivers but also manufactures Whoosh in Indonesia."
Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, president director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China which built and operates the railway, underscored the public's enthusiasm for the train, noting its role in revolutionising daily life and modern travel.
"People can see and feel the benefits of Whoosh, not only because of its comfort and speed but also because it has changed lifestyles and introduced a new way of living," Riyadi said.
He noted that Whoosh currently operates 48 daily trips, with plans to increase to 62 next year, and highlighted that as of Thursday, the train had transported 5.79 million passengers and covered 2.57 million kilometres in its first year of operation.
"One year on, with the joint efforts of the heads of state from both countries and the operators from Indonesia and China, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is operating safely, efficiently, and continuously, bringing comprehensive benefits to communities," said Wang Lutong, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia.
He further emphasised China's commitment to working with the Indonesian government and businesses to enhance infrastructure and transportation, thereby improving the lives of Indonesian people.
The 142.3-kilometre high-speed railway, the first of its kind in South-East Asia, commenced its commercial service on Oct 17, 2023. With a maximum speed of 350km per hour, it has slashed travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from over three hours to 40 minutes. - Xinhua
