Indonesia’s China-funded high-speed railway hit with fresh problems

The 142km Jakarta-Bandung line, a high-profile belt and road project, is already US$1.2 billion over its initial budget and four years behind schedule

Indonesia’s transport ministry is now calling for the proposed commercial launch of the rail line to be pushed back from August this year to January

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A high-speed train carries out a test run on the Jakarta-Bandung line in Tegalluar, Indonesia’s West Java province, last month. The railway had planned to begin a free trial with passengers in mid-August, but this could now be pushed back. Photo: Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi via Reuters

Published: 3:03pm, 7 Jun 2023Updated: 3:12pm, 7 Jun 2023

Indonesia’s transport ministry and three consultants have pushed back on a China-funded consortium’s plan to start full commercial operations of the country’s US$7.3 billion first high-speed train service in August, an internal document shows.

A flagship project of President Joko Widodo – and part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – the 142km (88-mile) line from capital Jakarta to the large city of Bandung being built by a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese state firms is already US$1.2 billion over the initial budget and four years behind schedule.

A smooth opening of the railway line, the most high-profile belt and road project in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, as part of Independence Day celebrations would be a shot in the arm for its ruling party ahead of a general election next year, analysts said.

“A further delay will only become ammunition for the opposition to attack,” said Teuku Rezasyah, an international relations analyst at Padjadjaran University, adding that setbacks would taint China’s credibility to develop and deliver big projects in the region.

An inspection train runs along Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line last month. The showpiece belt and road project has suffered a number of delays and cost blowouts. Photo: Xinhua

Months before its proposed commercial launch in August, the showpiece project is beset by fresh problems, with the consortium’s Chinese participants wanting a full operational worthiness certificate for the line despite an incomplete station, a 48-page presentation reviewed by Reuters shows.