The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), the first of its kind in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, reported 383,000 passenger trips in its inaugural month of official operation, according to China State Railway Group Co on Friday. The high-speed railway, spanning 142 kilometers with a maximum design speed of 350 kilometers per hour, is operated by a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese firms, including a unit under the China State Railway Group. Notably, the journey time between Jakarta and Bandung has been drastically reduced from 3.5 hours to just 46 minutes.
China State Railway Group Co highlighted a significant increase in passenger flow during the first month, reaching a peak single-day ridership with a 98.7 percent occupancy rate. Since its official launch on October 17, the Jakarta-Bandung HSR has gained immense popularity among passengers, indicating its appeal as a preferred mode of transportation for locals.
Responding to the surge in demand, the operator doubled the daily active trains from 14 to 28, resulting in a corresponding increase in daily available seats from 8,000 to 16,000. During weekends, the number of active trains was further raised to 36 to meet peak demand. This expansion of services has resulted in a continuous rise in ridership, with daily passenger volume increasing from 4,131 to 21,359, and the occupancy rate climbing from 49 percent to 98.7 percent.
The Jakarta-Bandung HSR is considered a landmark project in the development of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Experts view it as a catalyst for regional economic and social development, setting an example for future BRI initiatives in Southeast Asia. Beyond its role in modernizing Indonesia’s transportation system, the HSR is expected to stimulate the growth of industries along its route, including commercial development and tourism.
Sun Zhang, a railway expert from Shanghai Tongji University, noted that the HSR’s strong first-month performance indicated a well-planned project that effectively met the demands of local residents. He emphasized the win-win nature of BRI projects and predicted that ridership would continue to rise as more locals opt for the train over buses and private cars for commuting between Jakarta and Bandung.
The Jakarta-Bandung HSR represents the first comprehensive implementation of Chinese high-speed railway technology outside of China, covering the entire system, all elements, and the complete industrial chain. Observers initially predicted that the HSR’s ridership could exceed 10 million trips in its first year of operation, reflecting its status as a symbol of national pride and a realization of a long-standing dream for locals. The railway passes through West Java province, stopping at locations such as Halim, Karawang, Padalarang, and Tegalluar.