Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway

The Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway is a proposed extension of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway is 143 km in length and has an operating speed of 350 km/h. The distance from Jakarta to Surabaya is about 700 km, depending on the chosen route. The route is not set yet, but a southern route via Yogyakarta is the preferred option.

Indonesia planned to build a semi-high speed railway from Jakarta to Surabaya. This would have been an upgrade of the current railway, with a top speed of 160 km/h. Indonesia offered this project to Japan in 2019, then in 2020 Indonesia announced it would extend the high-speed railway with involvement from China.

This page covers news about the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway. A separate page for the Jakarta-Surabaya semi-high-speed railway will be published if that goes ahead.

Maps

[Map via skyscrapercity.com.]

[Map via thestar.com.my.]

News archive

2024

Betting on the Jakarta-Surabaya fast train project – [06/05/24]
“The Jakarta-Surabaya fast train project plan must leverage and be integrated with urban transportation development.”

Government begins review of Jakarta-Surabaya fast train project – [03/05/24]

Indonesia, China to form team for Jakarta-Surabaya train project – [22/04/24]

Indonesia seeks China’s support to extend Whoosh to Surabaya – [21/04/24]

Jokowi urges China to expedite Surabaya HSR feasibility study: Retno – [19/04/24]

2023

Analysis: Indonesia begins study for extending Whoosh! to Surabaya – [15/11/23]
“The plan to extend the Whoosh! high-speed rail (HSR) to Surabaya is entering its early stages. The route extension, which currently only connects Jakarta and Bandung, is necessary to increase the high-speed public transport utilization from its current state. However, there are concerns regarding the possible downsides from continued partnership with China to develop the project, as well as calls for a more thorough feasibility study on the extension plan.”

‘Whoosh, yes!’: Lessons from Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail as country mulls its next fast train – [05/11/23]
“The government wants to extend the Jakarta-Bandung route to Surabaya, cutting travelling time from about 10 to just 3.5 hours.”

Indonesia, China start studying Whoosh extension to Surabaya – [02/11/23]

Indonesia taps China for study into high-speed rail extension to Surabaya – [01/11/23]
“The government will work with state-owned China Railway group to conduct a joint study on extending the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail (HSR) project to Surabaya, East Java, the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry has said.”

Proposed bullet train linking Jakarta to Surabaya could boost tourism, economy in south Java – [28/10/23]
“If the plan materialises, travellers will be able to shuttle between the country’s two biggest cities in about 3½ hours – a fraction of the 10½ hours it takes by regular train, and 10 hours by car.”

Sandiaga Uno backs Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train via southern coastal area – [25/10/23]
“Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno supported the government’s plan to develop the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train as it could help promote tourist destinations and improve the people’s economy.”

Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train more economically feasible, says economist – [17/10/23]
“A senior economist from the University of Indonesia (UI), Faisal Basri, assessed that the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train would be more ideal in terms of distance than the recently launched Whoosh high-speed train connecting Jakarta and Bandung. He said the Jakarta-Surabaya route could pass through Cirebon and Semarang and end in Surabaya.”

PT INKA collaborates with ITS Researchers to develop Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train prototype – [09/10/23]

Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train included in blueprint: Minister – [08/10/23]

A debt trap is lurking – [06/10/23]
“Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Whoosh high-speed railway (HSR) on Monday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signaled his intention of having the consortium, which built the newly officiated railway, extend the track to Surabaya.

However, this might not be a good idea, as the Whoosh HSR project connecting Jakarta and Bandung has already burdened the state budget, even though it was originally designed under a business-to-business mechanism. There is a risk that expanding the line to Surabaya will exacerbate the financial burden that may eventually plunge the country into a debt trap.”

High-speed train to Surabaya will take 3.5 hrs only, transportation minister says – [03/10/23]
“Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi revealed the plan to extend the development of a high-speed train to Surabaya in East Java.”

Indonesia’s plan to build mega railway with China and Japan raises debt trap fears – [25/09/23]
“The Indonesian government wants to include China in another multibillion-dollar railway initially only earmarked for Japan.

But the proposed Jakarta-Bandung-Surabaya railway project could lead to a debt trap, analysts say, while Indonesia’s ties with long-time investor Japan could also weaken.”

Indonesia urged to study feasibility of extending China-backed rail line as Japan mulls exit – [16/09/23]
“Indonesia plans to give China the project to extend the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway line to Surabaya.

Japan could pull out of the project to protect its brand, as analysts urge Indonesia to go with whichever country offers the best rate given its limited resources.”

Govt to extend high-speed rail to Surabaya through southern Java – [14/09/23]
“Earlier, the ministry’s Director General of Railways Mohamad, Risal Wasal, said that his side is projecting to extend the route of the high-speed railway to Surabaya via Yogyakarta, a southern city in Java.”

Japan reluctant to join Indonesian high-speed rail project, citing need to protect its ‘brand’ – [13/09/23]
“The main phase of the US$7.3 billion project to connect Jakarta with the West Java capital of Bandung, which began construction in January 2016, is nearing completion.”

China, Indonesia discuss extending Jakarta high-speed railway – [06/09/23]
“China and Indonesia discussed potentially extending a multi-billion dollar Beijing-funded railway project, an Indonesian minister said, after Chinese Premier Li Qiang rode the bullet train on a trial run on Wednesday.”

With Indonesia’s high-speed rail set to launch in September, authorities look to Surabaya for phase two – [14/08/23]
“It is planning phase two of the high-speed train service by stretching the line to Surabaya in East Java, some 700km eastward from Jakarta, to balance efficiency and profitability.”

Govt reaffirms Surabaya high-speed rail extension to continue under next cabinet – [02/08/23]
“Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi reaffirmed that the government would continue extending the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) to Surabaya despite a recent change to the national strategic projects (PSN) list.”

Govt to remove Jakarta-Surabaya rail link from strategic project list – [26/07/23]
“Indonesia is mulling whether to write off the Jakarta-Surabaya rail link project from the national strategic projects (PSN) list with the government citing uncertain financing and the length of time needed to wrap up the job.”

Why Indonesia should be cautious in extending its high-speed railway – [18/07/23]
“The eastward extension to Surabaya may make economic sense, but Jakarta should first learn from the troubles faced during the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung line.”

Government plans to extend high-speed rail to Surabaya via Yogyakarta – [06/07/23]

Granting the Jakarta-Surabaya train project to China is dangerous – [26/06/23]
“The writer says before going ahead with the Jakarta-Surabaya railway project, Jokowi must calculate the long-term impact of his decision, including public scrutiny when he is no longer in power.”

Free fast train rides set for August as govt eyes Surabaya expansion – [26/06/23]

Indonesia to conduct study on Bandung-Surabaya high-speed rail link: Coordinating Minister – [22/06/23]
“Indonesia wants to conduct a preliminary study on a Bandung-Surabaya high-speed rail link connecting the country’s most populous island Java from west to east, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investments Luhut Pandjaitan said on Thursday (Jun 22).”

2022

Analysis: Jokowi insists on extending Jakarta-Bandung HSR to Surabaya – [07/11/22]
“President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has insisted on proceeding with the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway (HSR) project by extending the Jakarta-Bandung HSR to Surabaya in East Java, likely with the same Chinese investors, despite the financial challenge of completing the Jakarta-Bandung project, which has been bogged down with delays and massive cost overruns.”

Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train is a long-term plan: Minister – [04/11/22]
“The Jakarta-Surabaya High-Speed Train is projected to take the route: Jakarta – Karawang – Bandung – Kertajati – Purwokerto – Yogyakarta – Solo – Madiun – Surabaya.”

Jakarta – Surabaya high-speed rail under serious discussions: transportation minister – [01/11/22]
“The Ministry of Transportation on Monday ensured that the government’s plan to construct the high-speed rail connecting Java Island’s Jakarta and Surabaya will no longer be mere wishful thinking.”

Indonesia reaffirms Jakarta-Surabaya high speed railway, wants to involve China – [31/10/22]
““If the government continue this to Surabaya, I think it will make [transportation cost in] Indonesia more efficient,” Luhut told reporters after an event with China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia.

Asked whether the government would choose between China or Japan to execute the extension, Luhut said that he preferred the former.”

Indonesia, France discuss cooperation in Surabaya high-speed railway system – [02/09/22]
“Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has met the French Minister Delegate for Transport, Clément Beaune, in Paris, France, on Friday (September 2). They discussed cooperation opportunities in the transportation sector, including the future development of high-speed railway system to Surabaya.”

2021

Indonesia’s plan to build mega railway with China and Japan raises debt trap fears – [26/09/21]
“The Indonesian government wants to include China in another multibillion-dollar railway initially only earmarked for Japan.

But the proposed Jakarta-Bandung-Surabaya railway project could lead to a debt trap, analysts say, while Indonesia’s ties with long-time investor Japan could also weaken.”

Indonesia invites China as investor for extended high-speed railway – [19/01/21]
“Indonesia will go ahead with plans to extend construction of the Chinese-backed Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway to Surabaya despite Japan refusing to join the enlarged project, the investment ministry said Tuesday.”