JAKARTA: The Indonesian government is grappling with mounting financial strain from its much-touted high-speed railway project led by China. The high-speed railway, branded as Whoosh, operates at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour, covering the 140-kilometre route between Jakarta and Bandung in West Java Province in about 45 minutes. During President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's tenure (2004-2014), Japan's Shinkansen bullet train system was considered the leading candidate for Indonesia's high-speed rail project. The high-speed railway in Indonesia was once a showcase project of China's vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. A future extension of the high-speed railway to eastern Java is under consideration, raising hopes that, if implemented, the project could become more profitable.

Source: The Star February 17, 2026 17:50 UTC