Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway handles over 18mil passenger trips in 3 years

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, locally known as Whoosh, has operated safely for three full years as of Saturday, handling over 18 million passenger trips since it entered commercial service, according to China Railway International Co Ltd, reported Xinhua.

During the three-year period, the first high-speed rail line in Indonesia operated a total of 58,666 bullet train trips, safely travelling over 8.9 million kilometres with an on-time performance rate of 99.4%, said the company.

The number of daily train services has increased from 14 at the initial stage of operation to a peak of 62 trips, with the highest single-day passenger volume reaching 26,770, official data showed.

In terms of service enhancements, the Whoosh team has tailored ticketing options and service models to cater to various travel habits and budgets. Flexible dynamic pricing, multi-channel ticketing, frequent-flyer-style loyalty cards, and ticket modification services have been introduced to provide passengers with more versatile travel options.

Since entering operation, the railway has reshaped urban transportation along the route, attracting businesses in tourism, catering, and retail to cluster around railway stations, thereby creating job opportunities and boosting income for local residents.

To date, stations along the route host 117 commercial vendors, including 29 micro, small, and medium enterprises, offering local food, beverages, souvenirs, and creative cultural products.

While boosting local consumption, the railway has also attracted an increasing number of international travellers. The operation team has improved station facilities, commercial amenities, and last-mile transport connectivity.

According to data from operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, Whoosh has transported and served over 960,000 international travellers, giving a strong boost to local tourism and related industries.

To ensure safety, the team tailored China’s high-speed rail management to Indonesia’s weather and seismic conditions through advanced real-time monitoring and emergency response systems.

Whoosh, also the first high-speed rail line in Southeast Asia, now operates at speeds of up to 350km per hour, reducing travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from around four hours to about 45 minutes.  

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