Indonesia to benchmark Whoosh finances before extending line to Surabaya

Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation is making the financial restructuring of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail (KCJB), known as Whoosh, the primary benchmark for any decision to extend the line further to Surabaya and Banyuwangi.

Director General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation, Allan Tandiono, stated in Jakarta that this focus on resolving financial issues aligns with the directives of Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who also chairs the High-Speed Rail Committee. The outcome of the financial restructuring will be the basis for evaluating the feasibility of further route development.

"The government is currently focused on the financial restructuring of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail," Allan Tandiono said. This statement reinforces the government's stance that the project's expansion to East Java hinges on the financial stability of KCJB's operator.

Coordinating Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono previously mentioned that the plan for extending the Whoosh project to East Java is being pursued in parallel. However, he stressed that completing the financial restructuring of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), the KCJB operator, remains a non-negotiable priority. "We are doing the stages in parallel today," Agus said, explaining that while developing the extension, the government will ensure the KCJB's financial restructuring proceeds smoothly. He also indicated discussions with the Ministry of Finance and Danantara Indonesia regarding the operational plan to Banyuwangi, emphasizing that resolving KCJB's finances is crucial for the Whoosh project's roadmap to East Java. "It's best to ensure the KCJB is completed first, meaning a good solution can be found, and then we develop the next steps," Agus explained.