Jakarta: For Zaky Najwan, an Indonesian civil servant who occasionally travels to Bandung, a city about 150 km away from Jakarta, work trips often demand tight schedules and swift movement.

Whenever he needs to travel quickly, the first thing that comes to mind is the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. Known locally as Whoosh, the crimson-and-silver train links the two cities at a maximum speed of 350 km per hour.

"Taking Whoosh has become the best option whenever I need to make a quick trip to Bandung," he said.

Since commencing official operations on Oct. 17, 2023, Whoosh has reduced the travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from more than three hours to 46 minutes. It is Indonesia's first high-speed train and the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Over the past two years, the 142.3-km Whoosh has operated 36,747 train services, maintaining an on-time rate of over 95 percent.

The railway has reshaped travel culture for many Indonesians, including Laurensia Vanessa Hartono, a resident of Padalarang in West Bandung district, who lives close to Padalarang Station.

Her family often visits Jakarta, which she said offers more entertainment and recreation options than their hometown.

"To be honest, Whoosh has made us visit Jakarta more often," she said with a smile. "Driving is exhausting. Whoosh is convenient, comfortable, and pleasantly cool inside."

In the past two years, Whoosh has carried more than 12 million passengers, according to PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture between Indonesian and Chinese enterprises that built and operates the railway.

"Two years into Whoosh's journey, it has become a symbol of transformation and resilience in Indonesia's modern transportation sector," said Eva Chairunisa, KCIC's general manager for corporate secretary.

"With high technology, transparent governance, and a focus on sustainability, Whoosh continues to move toward its vision of becoming a world-class, sustainable transport operator," Chairunisa added.

Before the introduction of the high-speed railway, Indonesia mainly relied on narrow and standard gauge tracks, with only a small portion of its network electrified.

Transportation expert Arief Rahmanda said the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway represents "not only an infrastructure milestone, but also a concrete step toward a more advanced, efficient and sustainable future."

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