Who hasn’t ridden the Whoosh high-speed train yet? The first high-speed train in Indonesia, named WHOOSH by President Joko Widodo, began operations officially in October 2023. Its launch initially triggered a lot of reactions from the media and public, particularly negative comments. However, over time, the Whoosh train has started creating unforgettable memories for its passengers. This was conveyed by Rahardian Ratry, Deputy General Manager of Security, Safety, Health, and Environment at PT. KCIC (Kereta Cepat Indonesia China), during the Transportation Seminar Series 2 (Tuesday, 29/08) held at the Auditorium Room on the 5th Floor, Postgraduate School of UGM.
This year, the Postgraduate School of UGM has been entrusted with hosting the transportation seminar aimed at informing the public about developments in the railway transportation sector in Indonesia and gathering feedback from the academic community. Each seminar session features transportation experts from the railway sector to share their insights with no fewer than 200 participants.
“We need a lot of input from academic friends who have extensive theories, therefore the practitioners in the field can implement these theories. We believe academics can provide valuable knowledge,” said Rahardian.
Rahardian stated that Whoosh has now become a source of pride in transportation for the public due to factors such as comfort, technology used, speed, accessibility, and facilities at the stations, ticket sales, and train gates. The number of Whoosh passengers has increased, with data showing more than 24,000 passengers from May to July 2024.
Rahardian also added that the presence of Whoosh emphasizes connectivity, with supporting facilities continuously being built to further ease passenger access. PT. KCIC has implemented safety information to ensure zero accidents in its operations. The Whoosh train has become a symbol of progress and innovation with its ability to connect major cities quickly and efficiently, thereby enhancing accessibility to education, the economy, and industry.
This transportation seminar successfully attracted considerable attention from academics not only from UGM but also from several universities in Yogyakarta. Collaboration between academics and industry can contribute to the success and improvement of Indonesia’s railway system in the future. Indonesia is continuously adopting advancements in transportation from various countries, especially China, with the Whoosh train standing as evidence of the power of global partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals.
Author: Asti Rahmaningrum