JAKARTA, July 22 (Xinhua) — The Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail (HSR) has brought great benefits to Indonesia, according to Indonesia’s Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir.
Thohir said on his social media account on Saturday that the HSR has not only reduced travel time between Jakarta and Bandung since it began commercial operations in October 2023, but also saved 3.2 trillion rupiah (about US$197.56 million) in fuel costs per year by using electrical energy.
He highlighted the success of the HSR, noting that it had carried four million passengers as of early July, reflecting the public’s strong confidence and enthusiasm for Southeast Asia’s first high-speed rail.
“The Jakarta-Bandung HSR is expected to contribute 86.5 trillion rupiah (about US$5.34 billion) to the gross regional product of Jakarta and West Java province from 2019 to 2023,” he said.
With a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour, the HSR will connect Halim Station in Jakarta to Tegaluru Station in Bandung, West Java, reducing travel time between the two cities from more than three hours to around 40 minutes.
Thohir recounted his experience riding the high-speed rail with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, adding that he hopes the train will increase tourism numbers and further spur economic growth in the region.■
