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.

According to Nam News Network, in the past two years, Whoosh has carried more than 12 million passengers, as reported by 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.

Chairunisa emphasized that with high technology, transparent governance, and a focus on sustainability, Whoosh continues to move towards its vision of becoming a world-class, sustainable transport operator. 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.

For many travelers and families, Whoosh has revolutionized the way they perceive and utilize travel between Jakarta and Bandung. 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.”