Indonesia’s First High-Speed Rail Line Opens
They called it Whoosh, “The Whistle.” The construction was made possible thanks to China's Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Road.
On Monday, October 2, in Jakarta, Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated the country’s first 142-kilometer high-speed rail line, connecting the capital with the city of Badung, one of Indonesia’s most important commercial and technological centers. The state-of-the-art line is called “Whoosh,” as in “moving very fast, flying, and whistling,” but is actually an acronym for “reliable, optimal, and time-saving transport system.”
“The name of the railway line is inspired by the sound of a high-speed train,” Widodo said during the ceremony. He noted that “those who ride it will be able to experience speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour.”
The President also emphasized that the implementation of the first project of this kind in Indonesia was made possible thanks to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Road. This global infrastructure project is being promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Chinese initiative involves investing hundreds of billions of dollars across countries in infrastructure projects that will help increase economic and trade exchanges between China and the rest of the world. While countries in the Global South have enthusiastically welcomed President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, the West has abandoned the initiative, accusing China of wanting to “expand its influence into countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, as well as Europe.”
According to local media, “the construction of the Whoosh project was supposed to be completed in 2019, but was delayed due to some territorial disputes, the coronavirus pandemic, and government investment exceeding its planned construction.” The new railway line will be operated by a consortium including four Indonesian state-owned companies and China International Railways.
The construction of the Whoosh line was accompanied by a series of controversies that divided the Indonesian public. Authorities say high speeds will “help boost the country’s productivity and limit congestion and pollutant emissions” from cars. Critics argue that “it will only affect tourists and people traveling on business,” given the high cost of tickets, and “will prevent ordinary people from using the new line for daily travel.”
