Whoosh, Indonesia’s Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail service, has completed two years of operation. Launched in October 2023, it is the first high-speed train service in Southeast Asia and part of Indonesia’s broader effort to modernize its transport network.
Over the past two years, Whoosh has carried more than 12 million passengers. Daily ridership has peaked at about 26,700 people, showing steady demand for faster travel between Jakarta and Bandung. The trains have safely covered more than 5.65 million kilometers since service began.
The project’s total cost reached around 7.36 billion US dollars, exceeding the initial estimate of 5.16 billion. At roughly 52 million US dollars per kilometer, it is among the region’s most expensive rail projects. Factors such as land acquisition delays, technical modifications, and the pandemic contributed to higher spending.
Despite these challenges, the government considers Whoosh an important step toward long-distance, high-capacity transport in Indonesia. Plans are underway to extend the line to Surabaya, the country’s second-largest city. The proposed 780-kilometer corridor will connect major economic centers across Java Island. Preliminary studies estimate the expansion could cost between 25 and 30 billion US dollars, depending on the final route and financing model.
If completed, the Jakarta–Surabaya route will significantly shorten travel time between the two cities and enhance connectivity across Java. The project marks Indonesia’s continued effort to link its economic regions through modern rail infrastructure and to build on lessons from the first phase of Whoosh’s operation.
