The Ministry of Transportation aims to complete the feasibility study for the extension of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail (HSR) to Surabaya by the end of this year.
This extension could pave the way for construction to begin under the upcoming administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Mohamad Risal Wasal, Director General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation, said that the feasibility study for the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed rail is currently underway.
The study is being conducted by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), which is responsible for determining the best route for the extended rail line.
“The study will determine whether the Jakarta-Bandung-Surabaya high-speed rail will take a northern, central, or southern route,” Risal told a media conference on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
The Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed rail is an extension of the Jakarta-Bandung route and is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities from 10 hours to just 3.5 hours by land.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi previously mentioned that the fare for the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed rail would be more affordable compared to the Jakarta-Bandung route, known as Whoosh.
He added that the Jakarta-Surabaya project would face fewer obstacles than Whoosh, as Indonesia has already demonstrated its capability with the successful completion of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail, which had faced financial challenges during its construction.
Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, President Director of PT KCIC, said that several domestic institutions, including Polar UI (Testing, Measurement, Training, Observation, and Engineering Services Center at the University of Indonesia’s School of Engineering), are involved in the preliminary feasibility study in collaboration with China.
“This is a joint pre-feasibility study with China,” Dwiyana said in Jakarta in July 2024.
However, he did not provide a specific timeline for completing the study or an estimate of the investment required for the Jakarta-Surabaya extension. Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, confirmed China’s contribution to the extension project, adding that discussions on the development roadmap for the high-speed rail are ongoing with Chinese counterparts.
