Whoosh, Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line, has been operating for 2 years. Launching in October 2023, it’s the primary high-speed rail link in Southeast Asia and is an element of Indonesia’s broader efforts to modernize its transport network.
In the last two years, Whoosh has transported over 12 million passengers. Daily passenger numbers peaked at around 26,700, indicating continued demand for faster travel between Jakarta and Bandung. Since launch, the trains have safely traveled over 5.65 million kilometers.
The total cost of the project was roughly $7.36 billion, exceeding the initial estimate of $5.16 billion. At about $52 million per kilometer, it’s some of the expensive rail projects within the region. Factors including delays in land acquisition, technical modifications and the pandemic contributed to higher spending.
Despite these challenges, the federal government considers Whoosh to be a crucial step towards high-capacity long-distance transport in Indonesia. Plans are underway to increase the road to Surabaya, the country’s second-largest city. The proposed 780 km long corridor will connect major economic centers across the island of Java. Preliminary studies estimate the expansion could cost between $25 billion and $30 billion, depending on the ultimate route and financing model.
If accomplished, the Jakarta-Surabaya route will significantly reduce travel times between the 2 cities and improve connectivity in Java. The project reflects Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to attach its economic regions with modern rail infrastructure and construct on the teachings learned from Whoosh’s first phase.
