Indonesia Unveils Southeast Asia’s Swiftest Railway, Just 36 mins for Jakarta to Bandung

• 11 February 2024
• Construction Focus
• 1647 Views

Indonesia, a Southeast Asian gem with its rich cultural tapestry woven across more than 17,000 islands, has added another feather to its cap. The archipelagic nation is now home to the fastest railway in Southeast Asia, connecting the bustling cities of Jakarta and Bandung. The inaugural high-speed rail line, appropriately named WHOOSH, commenced operations in October 2023, revolutionizing travel times between the two cities from up to five hours to an astonishing 36 minutes, as reported by Bentley Systems on 7 February 2024.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, spanning 83km of elevated track, 46 bridges, 13 tunnels, and 55 cuttings, was brought to fruition by design and build contractor PT Wijaya Karya (Wika). Leveraging digital design tools from Bentley System products, the project seamlessly transitioned from conventional methods to advanced 3D designs, enabling continuous progress even during the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The success of this endeavor is poised to shape future phases of the high-speed rail initiative. Plans are underway to extend the route by an additional 700km, linking Bandung to Surabaya. The lessons gleaned from the Jakarta-Bandung project are anticipated to be invaluable in steering the next chapters of Indonesia’s ambitious high-speed rail journey.

• Technology and Engineering
• Digital and Smart City
• railway
• Bentley
• Digital Twin