Whoosh: The Brand New High-Speed Train of Indonesia
I had the pleasure of travelling on the brand new high-speed train called “Whoosh” between Jakarta and Bandung in Indonesia. Join me and find out what you can expect on board this train!
History of high-speed train service in Indonesia
Indonesia, with a total of 17,504 islands in its archipelago, 922 of which are permanently inhabited, is first and foremost a maritime nation.
Although most long-distance transport in Indonesia takes place by sea, air, or road, the country also has a proud railway tradition dating back to the Dutch colonial period, when the majority of railway lines were built.
In 1867, the first passenger train ran between Semarang and Tanggung on Java, Indonesia’s most populous island, followed by the construction of many more lines not only on Java but also on Sumatra and Sulawesi.
In 2018, construction began on Indonesia’s first high-speed railway line, connecting the capital, Jakarta, with Bandung, the country’s third-largest city.
On 17 October 2023, commercial high-speed train service began on this line, which will eventually be extended to Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, located in eastern Java.
Whoosh, the high-speed train of Indonesia. ©AndyBTravels
Whoosh!
High-speed train services in Indonesia are branded as Whoosh, which is not only an acronym for “Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Hebat” (meaning “Timesaving, Optimal Operation, Outstanding System”) but also mimics the sound of a fast train passing by.
It’s a fun and catchy name, and in my opinion, much better than the brand names inOui and Ouigo that the French are currently using for their high-speed TGV trains.
As of September 2024, Whoosh high-speed trains make 62 daily trips.
Boarding the Whoosh high-speed train at Jakarta Halim station. ©AndyBTravels
High-speed travel with Whoosh
The high-speed trains used for the Whoosh service between Jakarta and Bandung are the CR400AF Fuxing, which are Chinese-built and also a common fixture on high-speed railway lines across China, running at a top speed of 350 kilometres per hour (217 mph).
Along with a few Chinese high-speed rail services also operated by CR400AF Fuxing trainsets, Indonesia’s Whoosh high-speed train is the fastest in the world.
That’s certainly a unique distinction and something for Indonesia to be proud of!
Travel on a Whoosh high-speed train is certainly comfortable, with first class offering a 2+1 seat configuration, business class a 2+2 seat configuration, and premium economy class — the lowest class on this train — a 3+2 seat configuration.
For my first-class ticket, I paid 600,000 Indonesian rupiah (£29.50 or €36), while fares in premium economy are half that, at 300,000 rupiah.
As part of the on-board service, you receive a free snack box and a bottle of water, which is certainly plenty, as the ride between Jakarta and Bandung lasts only 45 minutes.
That short journey time is certainly the greatest benefit of the Whoosh high-speed train in Indonesia, as the same distance on a train on the conventional railway line would take 3 hours in comparison!
Take a look at my YouTube review below to see what the journey between Jakarta and Bandung on Indonesia’s Whoosh high-speed train is like.
Future of Whoosh
The only slight disadvantage of the Whoosh high-speed train service is that both of the current termini stations of the Indonesian high-speed railway line — Halim in Jakarta and Tegalluar station in Bandung — are located quite a distance outside the city centre.
However, this is something quite common for high-speed railway stations in many other countries, and it’s perfectly understandable.
By positioning the stations outside city centres, the high-speed railway line was much easier to construct, avoiding densely populated areas and allowing for easier future extensions of the line.
When the entire line across Java to Surabaya is completed, I will definitely return to experience more of Whoosh!
