National strategic project: Indecisiveness with the high-speed railway
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Bisnis Indonesia - Proyek strategis nasional: Maju mundur si kereta kilat
9 June 2023
By: Lorenzo A. Mahardhika
The operation of the megaproject Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway (KCJB) will not be changed from August 2023, even though there is an allegation that there is an issue regarding the operational worthiness certification process from the regulator.
However, challenges continue to arise for the Halim (Jakarta)-Tegalluar (Bandung) high-speed railway.
Due to the theft of copper cables and bolts that were recently installed on the high-speed railway route in Karawang, the national strategic project (PSN) faces another problem before the issuance of the operational worthiness certificate.
The initial operation of KCJB is scheduled to commence in the middle of August 2023 or on the 78th Independence Day of Indonesia. Referring to the schedule, the high-speed railway has less than 3 months to prepare for its operation.
Moreover, several KCJB stations are still being constructed by the contractor. Coincidentally, the implementing contractor that is also a shareholder in the Indonesian consortium, PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk (WIKA), is currently hindered by their financial restructuring process.
Hence, the regulator that is Transportation Ministry and three consultants for the KCJB project, namely Mott Macdonald, PwC, and the legal firm Umbra, are recommending the commercial operation to commence in January 2024.
“There is a possibility that, if the commercial operation commences in August, it can be delayed to complete the construction until 31 December,” the report quoted by Bisnis.com wrote on Thursday (8/6).
The management of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) as the operator of KCJB announced that the operational target of KCJB was still on 18 August 2023.
KCIC Corporate Communication Manager Emir Monti said that the soft launching period for people who are interested in trying KCJB would commence between August and September 2023.
Later, the people can try KCJB to get to know the mode of transportation that can go up to 350 km per hour.
He continued that the people could try KCJB from Halim Station to Padalarang Station in West Java.
The people can also try the integration of KCJB with Jabodebek LRT that connects Halim KCJB Station to all Jabodebek LRT stations. Besides that, the people can also try the integration of Padalarang KCJB Station with Bandung and Cimahi KAI Stations that uses feeder trains.
However, Emir does not deny that not all KCJB stations can serve passengers yet. “In the introduction period, the stations that will serve passengers are limited. The number will increase gradually,” he wrote in his official statement on Thursday (8/6).
Hence, he continued that KCJB would operate normally in accordance with the applicable regulations and terms after the soft launching period. The KCJB project has entered the testing and commissioning stage that use a high-speed inspection train.
He is targeting KCJB to be tested at a speed of 300 km per hour this month. Previously, all electricity on the route was turned off to improve the infrastructure.
The speed of the high-speed inspection train will continue to be increased gradually through several tests. The speed will increase from 180 km per hour to 300 km per hour, to 350 km per hour, and to 385 km per hour.
He continued that the trial that use electric multiple units (EMUs) would commence in the middle of July 2023.
During that stage, the testing of the high-speed railway will be adjusted to its daily operating schedule that will be effective after it operates officially and commercially.
“KCIC with all stakeholders will continue to accelerate the construction by still prioritising safety to complete the national strategic project in line with the set targets,” Emir said.
Regarding the operational worthiness certificate of KCJB that has not been issued by the Transportation Ministry, Emir promises that he will fully comply with the regulations set by the regulator.
He did not specify when the operational worthiness certificate will be issued. “We will fully comply with the regulations set by the Transportation Ministry, including with the operational worthiness certification [process] for the facilities and infrastructure,” Emir said.
Until now, the Transportation Ministry has yet to respond to the possibility of KCJB’s operation being delayed.
The Transportation Ministry’s spokesperson, who is also the Special Staff to the Transportation Minister for Human Resource Development and Public Relations, Adita Irawati suggested to ask the question to the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment.
Needs to be smart
Meanwhile, House of Representatives (DPR) member from PKS Fraction Suryadi Jaya Purnama reminded the government to not force the operation of KCJB to still be on target if it is not operation worthy yet.
He asked the government to be smart to minimise risks, including accidents. “A miss in the calculation will result in a cost overrun, but a mistake in setting an operational schedule before it is ready will cost the lives of the high-speed railway passengers,” he said during a press conference.
In Transportation Minister Regulation Number PM 7/2022 on Implementation of High-speed Railway, there are several conditions that must be fulfilled by KCIC before operating the high-speed railway.
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