Indonesia’s ‘Whoosh’ Bullet Train Officially Launched, Ticket Starts From IDR 150,000

Starting today, 10th October 2023, the paid journey on the “Whoosh” Bullet Train has been officially inaugurated, with a total of 14 daily trips offered. PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) will be providing free “Whoosh” Bullet Train tickets for passengers who’ve already purchased tickets before the promotional period ends on the 17th of October 2023. The sale of these high-speed train tickets commenced on the 14th of October, priced at Rp 300,000 for the premium economy class. However, come Tuesday, 17th October 2023, KCIC introduced a special 50% discount, reducing the ticket price to Rp 150,000. Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, the CEO of KCIC, expressed that this discount serves as a reward for those who’ve already booked tickets for journeys scheduled between the 18th and 23rd of October 2023.

Additionally, the official Whoosh Bullet Train app, in collaboration with the Access by KAI and Livin by Mandiri applications, has also been introduced on this occasion. Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, described the launch of ticket sales through these applications as highly anticipated.

Furthermore, this promotion is designed to support the government’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and pollution due to the high use of private vehicles on the roads. It also coincides with the 8th anniversary of KCIC, celebrated on the 16th of October, 2023, and aims to encourage the use of mobile applications for ticket bookings, especially for the Whoosh Bullet Train.

“We hope that the diverse range of promotional tickets for the Whoosh Bullet Train can pique the interest of the public to shift from road transport to rail-based public transportation, especially the high-speed train,” stated Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, CEO of KCIC.

To obtain Whoosh Bullet Train tickets at the special price of IDR 150,000, individuals can download the official Whoosh Bullet Train app. Additionally, tickets will soon be available through BRImo and BNI Mobile Banking applications.

Starting today, payments for Whoosh Bullet Train tickets can be made through various payment channels, including virtual accounts from Bank Mandiri, BRI, and BNI.

The Whoosh Bullet Train app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store. With this app, passengers can easily access schedules, make reservations, and board the train using the QR code that appears in the app after booking.

How to Tickets for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train

Tickets for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train are now available for purchase. There are several methods for buying tickets for this high-speed service.

1. Website ticket.kcic.co.id

   • Booking can be made from seven days before departure up to one hour before the journey.
   • Payment options include bank transfers, QR codes, e-wallets, credit cards, and retail outlets.
   • Passengers receive a QR code that can be used for boarding without the need for a physical ticket exchange at the station.

2. Ticket Vending Machines at the Station

   • Booking can be made from seven days before departure up to 30 minutes before the journey.
   • Payment is made through QR codes.
   • Passengers receive physical tickets.

3. Ticket Counters

   • Booking can be made from seven days before departure up to 30 minutes before the journey.
   • Payment options include cash, debit cards, credit cards, and QR codes.
   • Passengers receive physical tickets.

For those who prefer to use the Whoosh Bullet Train app and other applications such as Access by KAI, Livin by Mandiri, BRImo, and BNI Mobile Banking, booking through these platforms will commence on October 17, 2023, coinciding with the inaugural operation of the paid Whoosh Bullet Train directly from China.

Complete Boarding Gateways for the Whoosh Train

As the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train tickets officially go on sale for travel starting on the 18th of October, 2023, the service will operate 14 journeys every day. This includes seven trips from Halim Station to Bandung and seven from Tegalluar Station to Jakarta. Here is the detailed schedule:

1. Halim-Padalarang-Tegalluar Route

   • Halim Station
   • Padalarang Station
   • Tegalluar Station

2. Tegalluar-Padalarang-Halim Route

   • Tegalluar Station
   • Padalarang Station
   • Halim Station

3. Feeder Train Padalarang-Bandung

   • Padalarang Station
   • Bandung Station

4. Feeder Train Bandung-Padalarang

   • Bandung Station
   • Padalarang Station

Boarding the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train

If you have successfully registered and obtained KCJB trial tickets, remember to keep your registration proof for the day of departure. Here is how to board the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train during the trial period:

• Arrive at the departure station according to the ticket’s schedule.
• Arrive at least 1 hour before the train’s departure.
• Ensure that your registration proof is clearly legible.
• Before boarding, tap in at the designated machines.
• Wait for the train at the departure lounge.
• When exiting the station, be sure to tap out at the designated machines.

About the Jakarta-Bandung Whoosh High-Speed Train

The Jakarta-Bandung Whoosh high-speed train (KCJB) will undergo operational trials from the 1st of September, 2023. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin on the 1st of October, 2023 if all goes smoothly.

The KCJB project is the result of collaboration between Indonesia and China as development partners. KCJB is known as the high-speed railway in Indonesia, covering a route length of 142.3 km. The train will pass through four stations: Halim Station, Karawang Station, Padalarang Station, and Tegalluar Station.

The inception of the KCJB project was agreed upon in 2015, with the establishment of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) on October 16, 2015. Over time, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train has made significant progress, reaching 65.70% in 2020 and 79.90% in 2022. It will officially undergo a soft launch on The 1st of September, 2023, to commemorate Indonesia’s 78th birthday.

The KCJB is specially designed to operate at speeds between 350 km/h and 400 km/h. The fleet used for this service is the CR400AF, produced by CNR (Changchun Railway Vehicles) in China. It’s an electric high-speed train with a passenger capacity of up to 601 people, offering three class options: VIP, Class 1, and Class 2. The travel time for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train is estimated to be 36 minutes for direct trips and 46 minutes for those with transfers.

Interested in this topic? Check out our other articles from Social Expat: 

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