Jokowi Takes Test Ride on Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Train

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo took a test ride on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train for the first time on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Tempo observed at Halim Station that a number of ministers and celebrities also joined the test run scheduled at 9 a.m.

Among the ministers present were Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Hadi Tjahjanto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Deputy SOE Minister Rosan Roeslani, Director of state-owned railway operator PT KAI Didiek Hartantyo, as well as e-commerce firm Tokopedia and telecommunication firm Telkomsel President Commissioner Wishnutama.

Celebrities attending the trial run include comedian Lies Hartono alias Cak Lontong, singer Yuni Shara, and actors and actresses Asri Welas, Vino G Bastian, Marsha Timothy, Nirina Zubir, Vanesha Prescilla, Raffi Ahmad, Gading Marten, rapper Saykoji, Gigi band, and Slank guitarist Mohammad Ridwan Hafiedz.

Jokowi arrived at Halim Station at 8:42 a.m. and was immediately greeted by several officials, including Coordinating Minister Luhut. The two were seen chatting for a while and then entered the Halim Station as regional songs were played. 

The President and the entourage would take the country's first bullet train from Halim Station to Padalarang Station.

“[President Jokowi] will also ride on the feeder train [to Bandung],” said Director of the train operator PT KCIC, Dwiana Slamet Riyadi, at Halim Station on Wednesday.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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