Relocation of State Capital to IKN Will Affect Whoosh's Passengers: Observer

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Senior economist from Universitas Indonesia Faisal Basri stated that relocating the state capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan would affect the number of passengers for the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Train (KCJB), formally known as Whoosh. Before the relocation, civil servants who work in Jakarta-Bandung could be obliged to take the high-speed train to commute.

"Relocation of the state capital is an end [to Whoosh]," he said during a discussion in South Jakarta on Tuesday.

Aside from the state capital, the plan to relocate the capital of West Java from Bandung City is also a death sentence to Whoosh, the economist relayed. There are three other areas considered the new capital of West Java, namely Tegalluar in Bandung Regency, Walini in West Bandung Regency, and around the areas of Cirebon, Patimban, and Majalengka.

According to Faisal, the high-speed train is a substitute for airplanes, not trains, not travel cars, or private vehicles. The reason is, Faisal said, there is no way to add more aviation frequency since it would disrupt the air traffic. Meanwhile, Bandung's main transportation mode is not by plane, thus necessitating the existence of high-speed trains such as Whoosh.

"The main benefit [of Whoosh] is the swift check-in and boarding process. With airplanes, 5 minutes before take off the gate is closed, and we don't have that problem with trains. And there is no need to wait for your luggage at the destination," he said.

The passenger capacity is also superior with trains, as Whoosh has a 601-passenger capacity. "And there is no issue with the fare since there is no big difference with airplanes. The comfortability is on par," he said.

However, Whoosh only stretched along 142.3 kilometers and had many stops along the way, making the speed not optimal. "Halim Station and Tegalluar are no located in the heart of the city, as does Padalarang. We have to ride the Transjakarta or LRT before reaching Halim [station]. Meanwhile, ideally, high-speed train stations are located in the center of the city," he added.

Additionally, Jakarta-Bandung already has other more flexible modes of public transportation, such as travel cars or buses. Bandung is also not a business center, but a culinary center. High-speed trains, he said, usually connect business centers.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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