Military Space News
FAST TRACK
Indonesia to launch China-funded high-speed rail, first in S.E. Asia
Indonesia to launch China-funded high-speed rail, first in S.E. Asia
by AFP Staff Writers
Jakarta (AFP) Oct 1, 2023
Indonesia is set to launch Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway on Monday, a delayed multibillion-dollar project backed by China that will cut travel between capital Jakarta and another major city by hours.

The Chinese-made bullet train named "Whoosh" is built to take more than 600 people to and from Jakarta and the Javan city of Bandung in 45 minutes and is part of China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

President Joko Widodo has lauded the project for the fast ride it will provide between the two cities on Indonesia's most populous island Java, and he will inaugurate it on Monday, according to local media reports, citing officials.

"We will launch it on October 2, because on October 1, the president is busy," Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters on Friday.

The train can reach speeds up to 350 kilometres per hour (220 miles per hour) and has cost a joint Chinese-Indonesian venture more than $7 billion to build.

It was built by PT KCIC, which is made up of four Indonesian state companies and Beijing's China Railway International Co.

It was set to cost less than $5 billion and be built by 2019 but delays due to construction issues and the Covid-19 pandemic saw costs spike.

Authorities have been running public trials of the new high-speed journey of 142 kilometres (90 miles) before its opening.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang rode the train with senior Indonesian minister Luhut Pandjaitan last month on his visit to Jakarta for a series of summits with Southeast Asian leaders.

Pandjaitan told reporters on Thursday that Widodo plans to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping in the future to ride the train, without providing further details.

Related Links
Great Train Journey's of the 21st Century

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FAST TRACK
Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains
Vienna (AFP) Sept 30, 2023
Austrian rail operator OeBB on Saturday unveiled its new generation of sleeper trains - a response to demands from travellers for less pollutant alternatives to planes and petrol or diesel cars. Night trains are starting to make a comeback in Europe thanks to their low-carbon footprint and after years of neglect, operators are now investing heavily to replace their ageing rolling stock. State-owned OeBB, which operates 20 rail routes across Europe, has been a pioneer in reviving such services. ... read more

FAST TRACK
Estonia, Latvia acquire 1bn-euro German air defence system

SpaceX launches new batch of Space Defense Agency missile tracking satellites

Ukraine receives new air defence systems from Berlin

Israel says US okays 'landmark' missile defence deal with Germany

FAST TRACK
North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles

Two killed by falling debris after missile strike on Kyiv: authorities

Australia agrees to buy long-range missiles from US

Kim Jong Un inspects cruise missile test as South Korea-U.S. military drills begin

FAST TRACK
Ukraine war pushes NATO to bolster drone-tackling expertise

Ukraine says 17 of 24 Russian drones destroyed overnight

Treasury Department sanctions supporters of Iran's military drone program

DARPA seeks tech solutions to create autonomous capabilities for commercial drones

FAST TRACK
SSC partners with Johns Hopkins for software best practices in protected SATCOM

Picogrid releases smallest AI-Enabled Command Station deployable in minutes

PLD SPACE signs a MOU with WISeKey to launch ultra-secure satellites with MIURA 5

Space Force awards Viasat contract for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellite Services

FAST TRACK
First batch of U.S. Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine

Poland no longer arming Ukraine: Polish PM

Ukraine's new defence minister asks for 'more heavy weapons'

General warns China seeking to 'exploit' US military knowledge

FAST TRACK
U.S. signs agreement to help Poland modernize its military

'Quad' FMs voice opposition to arms deal between Russia, North Korea

Maryland contractor charged with espionage over national defense secrets

Beijing sanctions two US defence companies over Taiwan arms sales

FAST TRACK
US army chief and allies discuss Asia-Pacific in India

China will oppose 'wanton expansion of military alliances': FM

'Too bad, Vladimir': Hillary Clinton taunts Putin on NATO growth

Ratifying Sweden's NATO bid not "urgent": Hungary's Orban

FAST TRACK
World Nano Foundation highlights nanotech's role in space materials science

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.