Indonesia Unveils Southeast Asia's Swiftest Train

Indonesia inaugurated Southeast Asia's fastest train route on Monday, marking a significant milestone for the Belt and Road initiative led by China.

This transformative project links the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, with Bandung, the bustling metropolis and capital of West Java province.

It represents a monumental engineering feat largely underwritten by Chinese investments, amounting to an impressive $7.3 billion (€6.9 billion).

Distinguishing itself with speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour (217 miles per hour), this high-speed bullet train remarkably slashes the travel time between these two major cities from a lengthy three hours to an incredibly swift 40 minutes.

However, it's noteworthy that the project, aptly nicknamed "Whoosh," encountered persistent delays and escalations in costs.

Originally slated for inauguration in 2019, the 142-kilometer (88.23-mile) rail has faced various challenges.

Despite the prevailing concerns over the project's expenses and its commercial viability, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as "Jokowi," has staunchly championed its realization.

He elucidated, "The name is inspired by the sound of a rushing high-speed train," during the launch, emphasizing that the train's high-speed capabilities epitomize the modernization of Indonesia's mass transportation infrastructure with a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime and investment, further revealed that China Railway has agreed to transfer its cutting-edge technology to Indonesia, facilitating the domestic production of high-speed trains.

This monumental endeavor, primarily financed by China, was expertly executed by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China, operating under the acronym PT KCIC. 

PT KCIC represents a strategic partnership between an Indonesian consortium comprising four state-owned entities and China Railway International Co. Ltd.

The historic rail agreement was inked in October 2015 after Indonesia, following an intense bidding war, chose China over Japan.

The financing structure saw 75% of the project's cost covered by a loan from the China Development Bank, with the remaining 25% originating from the consortium's own financial resources.

Commencing in 2016, the project embarked on an ambitious journey with an initial estimated cost of 66.7 trillion rupiah ($4.3 billion).

However, this figure expanded to 113 trillion rupiah ($7.3 billion) due to a myriad of challenges, encompassing land procurement issues and pandemic-induced disruptions.