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E-mail Xinhua, October 18, 2024
JAKARTA, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, locally known as Whoosh, celebrated its first year of operation on Thursday.
"Whoosh is a result of Chinese innovation, which has made Indonesia more competitive on the global stage, particularly in Southeast Asia," Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said during the anniversary celebration in East Jakarta.
"The presence of Whoosh provides a new landscape for connectivity. It has earned public applause and proves that Indonesia is not just a country that follows but one that leaps forward," he said.
Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, president director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China which built and operates the railway, underscored the public's enthusiasm for the train, noting its role in revolutionizing daily life and modern travel. "People can see and feel the benefits of Whoosh, not only because of its comfort and speed but also because it has changed lifestyles and introduced a new way of living," Riyadi said.
He noted that Whoosh currently operates 48 daily trips, with plans to increase to 62 next year, and highlighted that as of Thursday, the train had transported 5.79 million passengers and covered 2.57 million kilometers in its first year of operation.
"One year on, with the joint efforts of the heads of state from both countries and the operators from Indonesia and China, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is operating safely, efficiently, and continuously, bringing comprehensive benefits to communities," said Wang Lutong, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia.
He further emphasized China's commitment to working with the Indonesian government and businesses to enhance infrastructure and transportation, thereby improving the lives of Indonesian people.
The 142.3-kilometer high-speed railway, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, commenced its commercial service on Oct. 17, 2023. With a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour, it has slashed travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from over three hours to 40 minutes. Enditem
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