Jakarta, 3 September 2022 (TDI): Two high-speed trains designed and manufactured in China reached the port in Indonesia.
They arrived in Jakarta on Friday after an 11-day sea trip from China’s Qingdao port and will be used for the Jakarta-Bandung railway.
Two high-speed trains designed &manufactured in China are being unloaded at a port in Indonesia. They arrived in Jakarta and will be used for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. (Recorded)https://t.co/JMpmhzKllT
— Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) September 3, 2022
One of the trains is an electric passenger train while the other is an inspection train. They are developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang, a subsidiary of state-owned China Railway Rolling Stock. The project will use another 10 sets of high-speed trains manufactured by CRCC.
Hari ini merupakan momentum yang paling ditunggu-tunggu pastinya oleh seluruh Sobat KeretaCepat karena EMU KCJB sudah tiba di Pelabuhan Tj. Priok. pic.twitter.com/91HczfIf2D
— Kereta Cepat (@KeretaCepatID) September 2, 2022
The trains will be shipped to Indonesia from China in four batches with the last batch set to arrive in March 2023. It is the first time that China is exporting high-speed trains to another country.
Moreover, the design and shape of the trains are inspired by the Komodo dragon, an endemic animal to Indonesia.
China and Indonesia are collaborating to build the fast-train rail link from Jakarta to Bandung, Indonesia. The project is estimated to cost $6.07 billion.
The project is aimed to be the first high-speed railway project in Southeast Asia, with a track length of 142.3km and an operating speed of 350km/h.
In the welcome ceremony for the arrival of high-speed trains, the President Director of Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC) expressed his pleasure at the arrival of the trains. He also updated the attendees on the progress of the project.
Halo, Sobat Kereta Cepat!
Dalam Acara Sambutan Kedatangan Rangkaian EMU & CIT Perdana Kereta Api Cepat Jakarta-Bandung ini, berikut dokumentasi Direktur Utama KCIC, Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi yang memberikan paparan update progres kepada Wakil Menteri BUMN, Kartika Wirjoatmodjo. pic.twitter.com/BKCmQn5hgq
— Kereta Cepat (@KeretaCepatID) September 2, 2022
Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, Deputy Minister of state-owned enterprises was also present at the occasion. He highlighted that the arrival of trains means that Indonesia can compete against developed countries.
Overview of the Project
Kereta Cepat Indonesia China is heading the Jakarta-Bandung railway project. A consortium between Indonesian state-owned companies and China Railway International in 2015 marked the beginning of the project. The project is an important component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Furthermore, it will use CR400AF-type electric multiple units (EMUs), developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang, a rolling stock manufacturer based in China. CRRC provided 11 sets of eight-car EMUs for the project. Its manufacturing was completed in April 2022.
The total length of the track laid for the project is 279.4km, which includes 112.8km of ballasted track and 166.6km of ballastless track. Moreover, about 44,000 passengers will travel on the train daily.
Benefits of Jakarta-Bandung railway
The Jakarta-Bandung railway will generate 40,000 jobs a year during construction, creating a positive economic impact. Moreover, the travel time between the two central hubs will be reduced to 36 minutes, from the original three to five hours.
Additionally, associated industries such as smelting, manufacturing, infrastructure, power generation, electronics, services, and logistics will also receive a boost. It will lead to balanced growth in all sectors.
Moreover, due to the project, stations and their surrounding areas will experience an increase in activity and development.
This will result in new opportunities for the real estate sector. Consequently, Urban and rural areas along the route will also experience balanced development.
