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PRESIDENT Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train (KCJB) on Monday (10/03), 2023, dubbed it “Whoosh”, marking the introduction of the first high-speed train service in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
“By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim (in the name of God), I officially inaugurate the operation of Whoosh KCJB,” he stated during the inauguration at KCJB Halim Station in Jakarta. Whoosh stands for “Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Hebat” (Saving Time, Optimal Operation, and Great System).
On that occasion, the official fare for KCJB had not been announced. However, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan noted that Whoosh fares are still free until mid-October of 2023.
The inauguration started at 9:00 local time, marked by Jokowi pressing the siren button. After the inauguration, the president, accompanied by First Lady Iriana and his entourage, departed for Tegalluar Station in Bandung District, West Java, aboard the Whoosh train.
Minister Pandjaitan, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono, and West Java Acting Governor Bey Machmudin also accompanied Jokowi.
The inauguration was also attended by several representatives from PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), the operating consortium for KCJB. With a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour, Whoosh connects Tegalluar Station in Bandung District, West Java, with Halim Station in Jakarta.
With a headway of 20-30 minutes, KCJB provides a new travel option, reducing the travel time between Jakarta and Bandung to just 36-44 minutes from around 3 hours.
This high-speed train features a spacious and modern design with three classes. It can accommodate 601 passengers in one trip, including with a special room for the disabled. This train applies a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) concept to ensure an integrated service system with various types of transportation modes, an array of culinary delights, and facilities. [antaranews]
