27-06-2025
Indonesia's First Bullet Train Reaches Major Milestone
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway has surpassed 10 million passenger trips since it began operations in 2023.
The 142-kilometer rail line connects Jakarta with Bandung in West Java, cutting a three-hour drive to a 46 minute-train journey.
Newsweek contacted the network owners, Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, for more information on the milestone via email.
Why It Matters
The high-speed rail link, a joint venture under China's Belt and Road Initiative, is Indonesia's first infrastructure project of this kind. China leads the world in high-speed rail development and the project symbolizes deepening infrastructure cooperation between the countries.
A Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train is seen at the Tegalluar station depot in Bandung, West Java, on January 17, 2024.
A Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train is seen at the Tegalluar station depot in Bandung, West Java, on January 17, 2024.
Getty Images
What to Know
The high-speed railway is now operating 62 daily train services, up from 14 during its initial phase, accommodating more than 37,000 passengers per day. Trains operate at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.
Some trains have recorded occupancy rates as high as 99.6 percent, particularly during peak travel seasons like Ramadan and Christmas, according to China Railway International reports seen by The Star.
Construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway began in 2015 after delays caused by land acquisition and funding concerns. Built at an estimated cost of $7.3 billion, the project is operated by the joint Sino-Indonesian Kereta Cepat Indonesia China consortium.
Funding was secured through a combination of equity and loans from the China Development Bank, with Indonesia holding a minority stake.
The railway's operation is overseen by the Sino-Indonesian Operation and Maintenance Consortium. Key operational practices, like emergency preparedness and earthquake resilience protocols, are adapted from Chinese high-speed rail standards.
As of June 2025, more than 600 Indonesian personnel have completed railway training programs, with 263 certified by Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation.
These include 34 train drivers who now independently operate trains under Chinese mentorship, a foundational step toward full local operation.
What People Are Saying
Danang Parikesit, professor of transport policy at Gajah Mada University, told Voice of America that the partnership between Indonesia and China was very important for future infrastructure expansion, saying: "Indonesia's long-term development plans will be able to cut logistical costs by half.
"That's why we need international partners to invest and improve our highways, railways system, ports and airports as well as other infrastructure like gas pipes and floating storage.
"Diversifying and extending partnership with other countries will provide a better base for our future transportation development. So I believe we need to balance between the urgent need for our transport investment and to diversify our partnership, taking the best of what different countries can offer."
What's Next
According to China Railway International, both Indonesian and Chinese rail partners are committed to making the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway a model of regional transportation efficiency.
Plans for future phases or extensions of the high-speed network remain under discussion, with the current focus on solidifying stable operations and local workforce development.
