A Ride on Indonesia's High-Speed Rail: Impressive Speed, but Is It Justified?

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel on Indonesia’s first #HighSpeedRail system, the #WhooshWhooshWhoosh (Jakarta-Bandung HSR). It was an experience that highlighted both the potential and the challenges of #HSR systems in urban environments, especially over relatively short distances. As someone with experience in #RailwayEngineering, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to other high-speed rail systems I’ve worked with, particularly Sweden’s #EastLink project. The question remains whether operating such high speeds over short distances is genuinely worthwhile.

Elevated Tracks: A Design Necessity for Speed

One of the most notable features of the Whoosh system is that much of the rail line is elevated, a decision likely driven by the need for the alignment to be as tangent as possible. #HighSpeedTrains require straighter tracks to maintain the speeds they are designed for, and elevation helps avoid the challenges of building through dense urban areas or difficult terrain. In terms of benefits, elevated tracks help prevent physical barriers that would otherwise impede the movement of people and goods. Traditional ground-level rail infrastructure can disrupt communities by creating barriers limiting access to adjacent areas. Elevating the tracks mitigates this issue by allowing for the free movement of people and vehicles underneath the railway, which is an important consideration in densely populated urban areas like #Jakarta and #Bandung.

However, despite these benefits, there are disadvantages associated with the Whoosh system, especially regarding station placement. Both the Jakarta and Bandung stations are located far from city centres, which detracts from one of the key advantages that trains typically offer—convenient, central access to urban areas. For many passengers, this means additional travel time to and from the stations, often negating some of the time the high-speed rail saves.

The Speed Question: Is 350 kph Justifiable Over 142 km?

During my journey, the train occasionally reached speeds of 350 kph, but for much of the trip, the train operated between 250 and 300 kph. While the ride was impressively smooth and the acceleration hardly noticeable, it raised an important question: is it truly worth operating a high-speed rail at 350 kph over a distance of only 150 kilometres? This question isn’t unique to Indonesia. I remember encountering a similar debate during my work on the #EastLinkHSR project in Sweden, which considered speeds of 320 kph over a distance of roughly 150 kilometres between #Järna and #Linköping. The question then, as now, was whether such high speeds were justified for a relatively short distance, especially when the gains in travel time are marginal once you account for acceleration and deceleration. High speeds like 350 kph are most beneficial on long, uninterrupted stretches, but time savings become negligible over shorter distances.

Additionally, high-speed rail infrastructure often limits the types of trains operating on the line. In the case of Whoosh, the tracks are exclusively for high-speed trains, which means mixed traffic operations (i.e., the ability to operate slower passenger trains or freight trains) are not possible. This lack of flexibility reduces the line’s overall utility. In contrast, some countries are exploring more versatile rail systems that allow for both high-speed and freight traffic, maximizing the use of the infrastructure.

The Cost of Tickets: A Potential Barrier for Regular Commuters

While the Whoosh high-speed rail offers a swift and comfortable travel experience, the cost of tickets might be a significant barrier for many. For a business class ticket, the price is around  $60, while first-class costs about US$80 or USRp1,200,000, and the standard economy is priced at approximately US$32. For many business travellers, especially those from higher-income brackets, these fares might be justifiable, considering the speed and comfort. However, for average-income workers or even blue-collar professionals, this pricing might be seen as prohibitively expensive, especially for daily commuting.

This challenge is compounded by the fact that the train stations in both Jakarta and Bandung are located far from the city centres. Commuters would still need to arrange for additional transport—likely increasing both the time and cost of their journey—just to reach their workplace or home from the station. As a result, the Whoosh HSR may be less attractive for work-related commuting, as it negates some of the key advantages typically associated with train travel, such as easy access to central urban areas and cost-effectiveness for daily trips.

In the broader context, these factors make it more likely that the Whoosh will appeal mainly to occasional travellers or those using it for long-distance business trips rather than serving as a practical solution for the average daily commuter.

Final Thoughts: Efficiency vs. Practicality

Indonesia’s Whoosh system is undoubtedly an impressive feat of #Engineering, and the ride itself was smooth, fast, and comfortable. However, the choice to operate at speeds of 350 kph over such a short distance, coupled with the placement of stations far from city centres, raises questions about the overall efficiency and practicality of the system. High-speed rail should balance providing fast, efficient travel and offering convenient access to urban centers.

Reflecting on my experience, it becomes clear that context matters when deciding the optimal speed and structure for high-speed rail systems. In Indonesia’s case, the Whoosh system may need to address these challenges to maximize its potential as a transformative mode of #Transport in the region. Whoosh whoosh whoosh... (almost) Yes!.