Indonesia: 'Whoosh' train rockets beyond 1.3 million passengers

WHOOSH: Indonesia’s “Whoosh” (short for Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Hebat, literally meaning “Timesaving, Optimal Operation, Excellent System”) is the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia and the Southern Hemisphere has hit more than 1 million passengers after its commercial roll-out, according to the operator. It averages around 20,000 daily passengers, hitting 1.3 million so far on its 75th day.

PUBLIC PATRONAGE: The highest number of passengers served in a single day on Whoosh was 21,500 passengers on December 26, including during the year-end holiday, KCIC reported.

EXTENSION IN THE WORLD: Local Indonesian media reported that KCIC is holding a tender for consultant services to prepare a feasibility study to extend the Whoosh high-speed train service to Surabaya, about 782 km from the Jakarta. Tender registration closed on January 9, 2023. A Google map shows existing conventional route from Jakarta to Surabaya.

HIGH-SPEED: With average operating speed of 350 km/h, the Whoosh has recorded 1,028,216 passengers on December 25, 2023. It kicked off its passenger service on October 17, 2023. “Reaching 1 million passengers in just two months is evidence of the high demand for modern and dependable public transportation in Indonesia,” according to the PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), the company behind Whoosh.

REVOLUTIONARY: The project represents the first China export of its entire high-speed rail system, encompassing the industrial chain, to an overseas destination. The Whoosh, built at a total cost of $7.3 billion, uses the KCIC400AF Fuxing EMU train sets. It has revolutionising travel between Jakarta and Bandung by reducing the journey time from over three hours to a mere 40 minutes.

BRAND NAME: The Whoosh is the brand name for high-speed train, previously Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Railway (Indonesian: Kereta Cepat Jakarta–Bandung) operated by KCIC. It connects Indonesia's first and second-largest metro cities, Greater Jakarta with over 34 million population and Greater Bandung with population of 11 million, serving a total of 45 million population. It cuts travel time between the two cities from averaging 3 hours to about 30 minutes.

MILESTONE: The current line covers a distance of 142.8 km (88.7 mi) with an operating speed of 350 km/h (220 mph), and a design speed of 420 km/h (260 mph), enabling Indonesia to have one of the fastest railway networks in the world operating commercially.

TRANSFORMATIVE: The Whoosh has swiftly become a catalyst for transformative changes in the lives of various segments of the Southeast Asian population, ranging from business executives and hotel operators to motorbike riders. The public patronage underscores its role in connecting Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, with Bandung in West Java province within a remarkably short timeframe.

ENHANCEMENTS: Since mid-October, collaborative efforts between Chinese and Indonesian working groups focus on enhancing the rail operations, including online ticket promotions, efficiency improvements in passenger services, and integration with other transit systems.

SIGNATURE PROJECT: When Whoosh was unveiled in October, it was a momentous month for Indonesia, as well as China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The signature high-speed railway (HSR) project has been touted as a significant achievement for Indonesia and point of pride for China’s BRI. As the first HSR in Southeast Asia, the project also holds tremendous potential for Indonesia, with opportunities arising from the transfer of knowledge and technology on local industry.

FACILITIES: Stations at Halim, Padalarang, and Tegalluar now feature restaurants and convenience stores, with onboard food and beverage sales.

TRAIN FREQUENCY ENHANCED: The spike in passenger growth has also prompted PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese firms that built and runs the HSR, to intensify the train services up to 48 trips per day, from the previous 14 trips.