In pics: Indonesia launches China-backed 'Whoosh', Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway
It's a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative
The 142 kilometres (88.23-mile) railway, one of the president's signature infrastructure projects and a key component of China's Belt and Road Initiative, has encountered obstacles ranging from land procurement issues, pandemic-related delays, and ballooning costs.
Why was it named Whoosh?
"The name is inspired by the sound of a rushing high-speed train," said the president during the launch.
The bullet train named "Whoosh" is far behind the original target of operations in 2019.
The train's operating speed
The maximum operating speed of the train could reach 350 kilometres per hour (217 mph), said Jokowi, as the president is popularly called. He said that the train was "the modernisation of our mass transportation that is environmentally friendly".
Free trial rides on the bullet train
The bullet train free trial rides have been running since the second week of September. Luhut Pandjaitan, a senior minister in charge of the project, said that these free trial rides will be extended, and ticket rates will go into effect by mid-October.
Combined efforts
While China provided the majority of the funding for the infrastructural undertaking, the project was made possible through the combined efforts of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (PT KCIC), a partnership between an Indonesian consortium made up of four state-owned businesses and China Railway International Co. Ltd.
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