Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway Project Ready to Launch in August 2023″

KCJB High-Speed Railway
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Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, revealed several agreements reached with the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including one related to the megaproject of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (KCJB). According to Luhut, KCJB is expected to be operational on August 18, 2023, as a gift to celebrate Indonesia’s 78th Independence Day.

“We hope that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train will start operating on August 18, 2023, as a gift for the 78th anniversary of the Indonesian Independence Day,” he said at the Indonesia-China Cooperation Press Conference in Jakarta on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Luhut also expressed his desire for a leader from the PRC to be present to witness the operation of the KCJB. During the visit, he also reported that the entire KCJB route has been fully connected from Tegalluar to Halim Perdanakusumah, with a total of 304 km of track installed on both sides.

The trial run is planned to take place at the end of May so that it can operate smoothly by August 18. “I reported last week that I had laid the last piece of track, which was 304 km long, and the trial run will start at the end of May, at the latest,” he said.

Indonesia and the PRC have agreed to a cost overrun for the KCJB of approximately USD 1.2 billion. “The technical team from both countries has agreed on a cost overrun of USD 1.2 billion.

So, to make sure that our audit results match theirs, the detailed discussions of both parties agree on the amount of USD 1.2 billion,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, with the opening of the high-speed train approaching, the Kemenkomarves Expert Staff, who also serves as the Chairman of the KCJB Project Management Operation, Baja Sirait, said that Kemenkomarves has coordinated with several relevant agencies to ensure the necessary security for the KCJB project. Coordination has been carried out with the Metro Jaya Regional Police, the West Java Regional Police, and all relevant stakeholders.

“The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway project will be registered as a National Vital Object in Indonesia. Its security process cannot apply the same treatment as other trains because of its complex construction, so there must be no mistakes in its operation,” Baja said.