Indonesian commuters to benefit from China-made bullet trains

In East Jakarta, the Indonesia-China joint venture that runs the Bandung-Jakarta speed rail said its staff members have been preparing for a dynamic trial run of a 20-kilometer journey between Tegalluar and Cikopo stations near Bandung.

Deni Yusdiaana, corporate communications manager of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, or KCIC, said the test aims to make sure that all systems for the train operation function properly.

Over the past several days, a super sleek, silver-bodied high-speed train, imported from China and decorated with a flash of red symbolizing prosperity, has been moving in and out of Tegalluar station in Bandung, Indonesia's West Java province.

The China-made electric trains are undergoing hot-running tests of the catenary system of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway.

For years, builders and engineers have worked hard on this flagship project that synergizes the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy. During an inspection tour on Oct 13, Indonesia President Joko Widodo said the operation is targeted to start by June 2023.

Travel time between the two cities will be cut from three hours to about an hour for millions of people once the train is in operation.

Bandung businessman Jamin Haryanto said he is eager to ride the bullet train that is designed for a 40-minute trip. Currently, he drives to Jakarta.

His son Andrew said many people in Bandung and Jakarta travel for business and leisure during the weekend. But they said getting to the bullet train stations is quite a journey both in Bandung and Jakarta.

In hope of easing travel time, government officials said special feeder systems would be built near the Halim and Tegalluar stations, in addition to the light rail transit, or LRT, system. Other feeder systems include buses.

For Bandung's Tegalluar station, Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said a feeder rail will be built in Padalarang near the city to transport bullet train passengers to the central part of Bandung.

In anticipation of the bullet train operation, KCCI said future businesses such as restaurants and souvenir shops will benefit from the stations' opening. There will also be new job creation as a result of more businesses.

The writer is a freelancer for China Daily.