The first high-speed train in Indonesia, which runs between the capital Jakarta and Bandung, the fourth-most populated city in the nation, finished its test run at 180 km/h on Monday, 22nd of May 2023, and arrived at its destination in less than an hour.
The average 212-hour drive between the two cities was more than cut in half during Monday’s train test run, the first of many thorough experiments that will gradually increase rail speeds to 385 km in the following weeks.
Once the train moves at its top speed, the distance travelled by rail will be covered in roughly 40 minutes. Commercial activities are expected to begin in August.
The 142-kilometre-long railway project’s construction was started in 2016. It is a component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, making Indonesia the first country in Southeast Asia to have a high-speed rail system.
An inspection train was employed during the thorough test run on Monday. The effectiveness of the track structure, vibration, traction power supply, communication and signalling works, and other systems were also examined. All of the components mentioned above performed well. The final trial runs in three weeks are anticipated to reach the claimed technical maximum speed of 385 km/h.
Japan’s Maglev bullet trains have reached top speeds of 603 km/h. Shanghai Maglev comes in third at speeds of 460 km, followed by France’s TGV trains at 574.8 km. Frecciargento trains in Italy may travel at a top speed of 300 km/h.
On the 18th of August, Indonesian President Joko Widodo intends to start the train’s commercial operations. Intelligent sensors, earthquake monitoring equipment, and an early warning system are all installed on the railroad track.
A senior engineer at the National Engineering Research Centre, Mr Chen Dongsheng, remarked on board the inspection train, “By commissioning and optimising the system interactions, we can ensure that the entire high-speed railway meets the design requirements.”
He continued that the high-speed train between Jakarta and Bandung is powered by electricity and emits no carbon dioxide directly while in operation. Compared to road and air transportation, it is more energy-efficient, rapid, and has a large capacity. As a result, it is the best and greenest kind of transportation.
Separately, Mr Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, a representative of Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises Minister, stated, “We chatted with our Chinese colleagues, and (we were informed) everything went smoothly, from the train set, wheels, and rail traction to communications, signalling, and power supply.”
“All were examined, and all passed muster at this pace (180 km/h).” Mr Kartika continued
However, Mr Kartika said that “homework” must be done to safeguard the railroad track in regions vulnerable to outside intervention, such as landslides; reinforcing certain areas is needed for further mitigation.
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