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View all search resultsWhoosh, you are trapped
Regardless of official statements, the state budget has borne, and will continue to bear, the consequences of the initial miscalculation of the Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway.
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A Whoosh Jakarta-Banding high-speed railway train sits at Halim station on Oct. 2, 2023, in Jakarta. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
P
resident Prabowo Subianto's conclusion that extending the financially troubled Whoosh Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) to Surabaya is the most viable way to avoid a debt trap is highly alarming. While State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi clarified this is the path forward, the government must learn from the mistakes of the initial project.
As the proverb warns, even a donkey won't fall into the same hole twice. The President must be cautious in negotiating this new project and should only approve construction after a comprehensive feasibility study, including financing.
The 800-kilometer extension—running from Jakarta to Karawang, Bandung, Kertajati, Purwokerto, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Madiun and Surabaya—would link major parts of Java, potentially drawing more passengers and shortening travel time between the two largest cities from 10-13 hours to just four.
However, to bring this ambitious idea to life, the government has little choice but to rely on the same consortium, PT KCIC, the Indonesia-China joint venture that currently manages the initial segment. This necessity underscores the financial and political trap the country is already in.
Since beginning commercial operation on Oct. 17, 2023, through the end of July 2025, the Whoosh has served approximately 10.7 million passengers. This translates to an average of about 16,000 passengers daily, which is roughly half of its initial daily target of 31,000.
During its 21 months of operation, the company is estimated to have generated approximately Rp 2.68 trillion (US$171 million) in ticket sales revenue, assuming an average ticket price of Rp 250,000. This revenue, however, is heavily outweighed by annual financial obligations. According to independent calculations, Rp 1.96 trillion is spent annually on interest expenses alone.
KCIC announced on Friday last week that it had reduced the number of daily Whoosh trips from 62 to 56 from Monday through Saturday. According to KCIC General Manager Corporate Secretary Eva Chairunisa, the change is aimed at providing longer and more comprehensive maintenance time for the trains. However, many speculated that the policy was part of an effort to cut operational costs.
