Indonesia, Japan to go with Jakarta-Surabaya 5-hour Train Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Indonesian government is proposing cooperation of Jakarta-Surabaya medium-speed train project with Japan. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the project propsed to Japan is aimed at accelerating the transportation speed to eastern Java regions.

"The current speed [of Jakarta-Surabaya express train] is 100 kilometer per-hour, later it can be 150 kilometer per-hour," he said Friday, May 27, 2016. So, the trip of Jakarta-Surabaya train which previously takes seven hours can be covered in only five hours.

Kalla said both countries are currently still seeking the best deal, but the government hopes the construction can be started next year. He added, this project will not hamper the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project. "Let China focus on the the high-speed train [project]," he said.

Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung confirmed the rumor of Indonesian and Japaness governments were preparing cooperation on a train project along with the infrastructures. Aside of cooperation on the train project, government has also proposed to build Patimban Port in Subang.

Pramono said the medium-speed train project with Japan will not be the same as Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project which is collaborated with China. The cooperation of the medium-speed train will also cover the supporting infrastuctures like the railway.

ADITYA BUDIMAN