Kereta Cepat Indonesia China

In April 2015, the People's Republic of China competed with Japan when the two countries offered their high-speed trains to Indonesia.[4] This competition, according to The Jakarta Post, is part of a geopolitical and economic rivalry between the two countries to gain strategic influence in the Asia-Pacific region.[5] After the project was nearly canceled at the end of September, Indonesia chose China as the winner of this 75 trillion rupiah (US$5 billion) project.[6]

On 2 October 2015, PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia (PSBI) was formed as a consortium of four state-owned enterprises involved in the high-speed train development process namely: Kereta Api Indonesia, Wijaya Karya, PTPN VIII, and Jasa Marga. On 6 October, the formation of the consortium was reported to the Financial Services Authority, and President Joko Widodo passed Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 107 of 2015 concerning the Acceleration of Implementation of Fast Train Infrastructure and Facilities between Jakarta and Bandung. The company will invest in a joint venture.[7][8]

The joint venture is called PT Kereta Api Indonesia China, with 60% ownership of PSBI and 40% of China Railway International Company Limited. The company was formed on 16 October 2015 and is planned to prioritise commercialisation, not burden the state budget, and promote synergies between businesses.[9] Responding to this new partnership, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stated he "deeply regretted" and "difficult to understand" Indonesia's choice.[4] However, BUMN Minister Rini Soemarno said that China's financial structure was considered more profitable because China's proposal did not require guarantees and funding from the Indonesian government.[10]

Proposed high-speed railway in Java, Indonesia

To start construction, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) passed Presidential Regulation no. 3 of 2016 as a National Strategic Project.[1][11] On 21 January 2016, Jokowi laid the first stone for construction in the Walini Tea Plantation area owned by PTPN VIII. The estimated financing for the construction process reaches IDR 70 trillion.[12]

In 2017, in the City of Beijing, PRC, a Facility Agreement for Infrastructure Financing and Fast Train Facilities was signed, which was personally witnessed by President Jokowi and PRC President Xi Jinping.[11] Budi Karya Sumadi as the Minister of Transportation reminded construction contractor companies to immediately speed up the construction process. According to him, land acquisition is a problem of hampering infrastructure development, and he does not require that land acquisition be completed 100%. Nevertheless, land acquisition is still a prerequisite that must be met so that the loan provided by the China Development Bank can be disbursed immediately.[13]

The established route is the Jakarta-Bandung route of 142.3 km,[14] and is supported by four stations namely Halim, Karawang, Walini and Tegalluar. Each station will be equipped with facilities to support transit-oriented development (TOD) around the station. Regarding the plan for this new station, Walini will be projected as a new planned city that will become a buffer for the Greater Bandung area. This project is projected to absorb 39,000 workers during the construction process, 20,000 workers during the TOD construction process, and 28,000 workers after operation. To support operations, KCIC will present 11 sets of fast trains with 8 railway carriage per trains.[8]

The construction process of the HSR station across from Padalarang Station

This project does not always run smoothly. The estimated cost set by KCIC was originally around US$6.1 billion, but in November 2020, KCIC estimated that there would be an increase to US$8.6 billion, and management was able to reduce costs to US$8 billion. The BUMN (State-owned enterprise) Ministry said that this cost overrun would be covered with funding from a consortium of shareholders and loans. The consortium will bear the 25% cost overrun originating from the state's capital participation that goes into PT Kereta Api Indonesia in the amount of IDR 4 trillion and China will lose IDR 3 trillion. The remaining 75% comes from loans.[15]

On 18 October 2021, KCIC stated that Walini Station, which was originally included in their list of stations, was removed from the list of stations, due to cost efficiency. Therefore, they will choose to shift the station to Padalarang for modal integration reasons.[16]

On 18 May 2023, KCIC officially started the first trial of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line. The KCIC line is electrified with a voltage of 27.5 kV AC.

Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail
Halim DKI Jakarta Jawa Barat Karawang Walini Padalarang  B   C   KC  Tegalluar Tegalluar Depot

On May 6 2016, the then KCIC President Director, Hanggoro Budi Wiryawan, determined the Jakarta-Bandung route for the KCIC line. According to him, the route has purchasing power which makes it very possible to buy high-speed train tickets. Bandung, according to Wiryawan, is a place with enough potential to be developed in the trade and tourism sector. With this determination of the route, KCIC's business is not only limited to relying on its high-speed rail, but also the development of areas around the stations where KCIC will serve.[17]

This line is supported by 13 tunnels and was built using elevated construction with a length of 60% of the total track length (142.3 km). The rest use at grade, especially for the segments that will go through the tunnel until they finally arrive in Bandung.[18][19]

The Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail line (KCJB) has a track width of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and was initially powered by 25 kV AC overhead power. This line has been doubled since its construction for the first time.[20] During the trial process on May 18, 2023, the electric voltage was changed to 27.5 kV AC. Four LAA traction substations are located in Halim, Karawang, Walini, and Tegalluar.[21]