Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 10 million passenger trips as of Wednesday. This marks a major success in the infrastructure collaboration between China and Indonesia.
Since its launch in October last year, the railway has operated nearly 30,000 passenger train services, covering over 4.63 million kilometers. The service, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, connects Jakarta with the tourism hub of Bandung, cutting travel time from over three hours to just 46 minutes with trains reaching speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour.
Passenger traffic has seen substantial growth, especially during holidays, leading to an increase in daily train services from 14 to 62, boosting seating capacity from approximately 8,400 to over 37,000. Peak daily ridership has hit 25,000 trips, with some trains reaching nearly 100% occupancy.
The high-speed rail has transformed travel for many Indonesians, offering punctuality and reliability. The operator has enhanced the passenger experience by expanding online ticketing, offering flexible refund policies, and providing various amenities at stations and onboard.
A key aspect of the project has been localizing operations, with over 600 Indonesian trainees completing qualification programs. This includes 34 train drivers now capable of independent operation under Chinese expert guidance, along with fully operational emergency responders and station control staff. This successful knowledge transfer paves the way for Indonesia to independently manage and operate the railway in the future.