Indonesia evaluates performance of Jakarta-Bandung Whoosh fast train

Jakarta, July 25 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) summoned President Director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) Dwiyana Riyadi and several ministers to evaluate the trend of passengers and performance of the Jakarta-Bandung Whoosh high-speed train service.

"He (the president) sought updates on the trend of passengers as well as the infrastructures and access (to the train service). Everything was evaluated," Riyadi told the press after meeting with Jokowi at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (July 24).

During the meeting, he said the president also sought information on the type of support the government can provide PT KCIC to further augment the performance of Southeast Asia's fast train service that commenced operations on October 17 last year.

Furthermore, the head of state drew attention to the plan to coordinate with China to conduct a joint evaluation of the safety and security of the train service.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Kartika Wirjoatmodjo noted that despite the train's decent performance, the daily average passenger count still stood far below the determined target of 29 thousand.

"The number of passengers has hit 24 thousand (per day). However, this is still below (the target). Hence, we will keep pushing," he remarked.

The deputy minister expressed confidence that PT KCIC would be able to achieve the target in the next two or three years.

He remarked that the government plans to increase the daily travel frequency from 48 trips to 62 trips to support the train operator.

Earlier, SOEs Minister Erick Thohir highlighted that Whoosh had accommodated as many as four million passengers as of July.

He also revealed that the high-speed train wields the potential to help Indonesia save Rp3.2 trillion (US$198 million) in fuel costs every year.