In December 2023, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) raised the promotional ticket fares for the “Whoosh” train. Prices are now IDR 200,000 for Monday through Thursday and IDR 250,000 for Friday through Sunday. Tickets for December became available for purchase on 24 November 2023, and are valid for a single trip.
These ticket prices cover the journey from Halim station to Padalarang station, with the added benefit of a complimentary feeder train to Bandung station or the reverse route. The current schedule includes over 40 train trips on weekdays and 48 trips on weekends.
Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, the Main Director of KCIC, stated that this promotion aims to boost public interest in experiencing Whoosh during the upcoming December 2023 holiday season.
Since its official launch on 17 October 2023, the “Whoosh” high-speed rail has accommodated 21,000 passengers during weekends and 18,000 passengers on weekdays. As of 22 November 2023, Whoosh has served a total of 491,000 passengers.
To boost Bandung’s tourism alongside the advent of Whoosh as a high-speed rail, several tourist destinations have been approached for collaboration by KCIC. These include Dusun Bambu, Farmhouse, Floating Market, The Great Asia Afrika, Tepi Danau, and Tepi Kota Healing.
Tourists purchasing Whoosh train tickets also stand a chance to receive complimentary tickets to their destination. KCIC had previously executed this strategy, resulting in a substantial increase in visitor numbers, reaching thousands within a month, as stated by the tourism management.
Despite the promotional offer from Whoosh, many passengers have encountered difficulties securing tickets, especially during the holiday season. As reported by detik.com, Mila, one of the passengers, expressed her frequent experience of ticket shortages when suddenly needing to travel to Bandung. According to her, passengers aiming to board this high-speed rail must make bookings at least seven days before the departure schedule.
