Indonesia's plan to extend the Jakarta–Bandung fast train service—popularly known as Whoosh—to East Java awaits financial restructuring of its operator, PT KCIC, according to a senior official.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) highlighted the restructuring, referring to ongoing efforts to settle KCIC’s debt owed to the China Development Bank for the high-speed railway project.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, he noted that he had convened meetings with the Ministry of Finance and sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia to advance the plan, which envisions a Whoosh extension to Banyuwangi, East Java.
AHY emphasized that the government had decided to refine the plan while pursuing financial restructuring within the railway operator.
The minister further asserted that resolving KCIC’s financial problem is essential to crafting and implementing a road map for the railway extension.
"It would be better to tackle the financial problem first, identifying the best solution to it, before taking forward plans for further development," he affirmed.
Despite the potential setback, AHY assured that the government remains determined to maximize the use of Whoosh, the first high-speed train of its kind in Southeast Asia, for the benefit of the wider public.
He expressed confidence that the plan’s realization would not only significantly cut travel time between Jakarta and East Java but also stimulate growth and development in connected regions.
"If a train trip from Jakarta to Surabaya can be completed within around three hours, it will reshape development maps and spur economic growth along the railway," AHY concluded.
Reflecting on the railway’s impact, the government initially envisioned extending it to Surabaya, the capital of East Java. President Prabowo Subianto later revealed a more ambitious goal of connecting the line to Banyuwangi, the easternmost district of Java.
At a press conference in November 2025, he said that Whoosh “helps reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and travel time.”
With that in mind, the president affirmed his commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability and development of the mass transport system.
He has also assigned AHY to oversee the implementation of the extension plan.
Editor : Vicki Febrianto
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2026