Indonesia eyes high-speed railway extension to boost Java connectivity

JAKARTA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government was advancing a study on the proposed extension of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) to Surabaya to accelerate integrated and efficient mobility across Java Island, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said on Tuesday.

The proposed project would build upon the success of the existing Jakarta-Bandung HSR.

"President Prabowo Subianto has issued a clear directive to extend the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway to Surabaya. This is more than a continuation; it represents a bold vision to connect Jakarta and Surabaya with faster, cleaner, and more integrated transportation," Yudhoyono said at the opening of the 2025 Indonesia RailwayTech exhibition in Jakarta.

"To realize this, we are preparing a new regulatory framework. This could be a true game-changer, significantly reducing travel time, increasing efficiency, and generating broad economic benefits by linking cities, industries, and ports across Java," he added.

The Jakarta-Bandung HSR has drawn strong public attention since it began commercial operations in October 2023, cutting travel time between Indonesia's biggest city Jakarta and Bandung in West Java from over three hours to just 46 minutes.■