JAKARTA, October 2025 —Southeast Asia’s pioneering high-speed rail project, the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Railway (branded as “Whoosh”), has completed two years of operation and shown encouraging results, prompting China to reaffirm its commitment to the project’s ongoing success. The line plays a key role in Indonesia’s economic and social development, as well as in regional connectivity.

Since official operations began on October 17, 2023, Whoosh has cut travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from over three hours to roughly 46 minutes along its 142-kilometre route. The line has safely served more than 11.71 million passenger trips to date and continues to record steady growth in ridership.

Indonesia’s state-owned entities are currently negotiating loan restructuring for the project, including discussions on extended repayment periods, revised interest rates, and currency terms, led by the sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia. The total project cost is estimated at around US $7.26 billion (approximately Rp119.8 trillion).

The project’s impact extends well beyond passenger transport. It has created jobs, improved travel links, and stimulated economic activity along the corridor. China has reaffirmed its support, pledging to work closely with Indonesia to ensure high-quality operations and maximize the railway’s role in supporting sustainable growth.

Financially, the Whoosh line has achieved operational profitability, and authorities have emphasized that the national budget will not be used directly for debt repayments. Instead, repayment responsibilities will remain with the operating companies and state-owned enterprises involved.

The collaboration between China and Indonesia in maintaining and further developing the Whoosh high-speed rail underscores its strategic importance in advancing modern transport infrastructure and strengthening economic integration across the region.

Source: Tempo.co