Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail Project Faces Implementation Challenges

Infrastructure Constraints

The ambitious plan to develop a high-speed rail service between Jakarta and Bandung with a travel time of 1.5 hours is facing significant feasibility concerns. According to Deddy Herlambang, Senior Researcher at Inisiasi Strategis Transportasi (Instran), the current rail infrastructure is not capable of supporting such high speeds. The existing rail network is designed for a maximum speed of 120 km/h, which would make the shortest travel time approximately 2.5 hours.

Expert Opinion

Deddy Herlambang stated that achieving the 1.5-hour target with the current infrastructure and conventional trains (heavy rail) is considered a 'dream project' as the existing infrastructure is not designed for such high speeds. He suggested that a more realistic target would be to achieve a travel time of 2.5 hours.

Collaborative Efforts

Despite the challenges, efforts to develop the high-speed rail service are ongoing. West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi recently signed a collaboration agreement with PT KAI to develop the Pajajaran high-speed rail service connecting Jakarta and Bandung. This collaboration marks a significant step towards improving rail services in the region, even if the 1.5-hour target is not immediately achievable.

Future Prospects

While the 1.5-hour target may be ambitious, the project could still bring significant improvements to the current rail service. By focusing on achievable milestones, such as reducing travel time to 2.5 hours, the project can still provide substantial benefits to commuters and contribute to regional development.