Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) presses a button signifying the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) during a ceremony at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
JAKARTA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway (HSR), the first of its kind in Indonesia, has been officially in operation as a train started off amid cheers and applause at Halim Station in the Indonesian capital on Monday morning.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the HSR's name "Whoosh," which means being fast, efficient and reliable, saying it marked the modernization of Indonesia's transportation mode.
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 state-owned firms that constructs and runs the HSR.
The 142.3-km long high-speed line, connecting Indonesia's capital city 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.
It is also the first overseas construction project that fully uses Chinese railway systems, technology and industrial components.
In addition to greatly cutting the journey between the two cities from over three hours to around 40 minutes, Indonesia's Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told Xinhua in an interview that the Jakarta-Bandung HSR would greatly promote regional people-to-people exchanges and drive the development sectors including tourism, employment and education.
According to KCIC, from Oct. 3 to Oct. 16, eight sets of HSR trains will operate between Jakarta and Bandung every day, and free tickets are available online for the public. The ticket sale is scheduled to start on Oct. 17.
Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said free public test rides had been running for three weeks before the railway's official operation on Monday, and people's enthusiasm was clear as they directly experienced the benefit.
Ahmad and his family were among the passengers of the public test ride last Monday. "Very comfortable, stable, clean and looks luxurious. The train is also kid-friendly," said the man.
"I was really amazed by how fast I could arrive in Bandung. I didn't even have time to sleep because the trip is too short," he said.
Since the construction of the railway began in June 2018, builders from Indonesia and China have overcome various difficulties including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They not only adopted China's advanced HSR technology, but also made adaptations to Indonesia's complex geological conditions.
The outcomes include bridges with better shock absorption performance, smoother ballastless tracks, a more functional train control system, and advanced and safe trainsets.
Meanwhile, during the construction of the railway, a total of 45,000 Indonesian talents were trained with HSR technology, according to the statistics provided by KCIC.
Budi Karya Sumadi said that the professionalism and dedication shown by Chinese builders are worth learning, and Indonesia hopes to continue to cooperate closely with the Chinese side in the operation and maintenance of the high-speed railway. ■
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) signs during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Crew members of a high-speed train head for the platform at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Crew members of a high-speed train greet passengers and guests at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Padalarang, Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Passengers pose for photos aboard a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Passengers aboard a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway take photos and videos of a display panel showing the train's speed exceeding 350 kilometers per hour in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
A train crew member walks in a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
A train attendant walks in a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Passengers explore how well a coin can balance itself on the windowsill of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Purwakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at Halim Station in Jakarta Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
A high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway stops at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (front) presses a button signifying the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway during a ceremony at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)
Dancers stage a performance to welcome participants of a ceremony marking the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)
A crew member of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway greets passengers and guests at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
High-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway stop at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) receives a salute from a crew member of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)
Crew members pose for photos with a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
A high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is seen at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)
This photo taken on Oct. 2, 2023 shows an interior view of Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Crew members of a high-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway greet passengers and guests at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
High-speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway are seen at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 2, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo declared the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) here on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
