The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway marked its six months of operation on Wednesday with a total of 2.56 million passengers transported, said PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese state-owned firms that constructs and runs the line.
With a design speed of 350 km per hour, the 142.3-km high-speed railway cut the journey between Indonesia's capital Jakarta to Bandung in West Java province from over three hours to around 40 minutes.
Since its official commercial operation around mid-October last year, the railway has operated a total of 7,050 train trips with a mileage of over 1.26 million kilometers, According to the KCIC.
At present, the railway's daily train trips have increased from 14 to 52. The highest number of passengers sent in a single day stood at 21,537, while the highest daily seat occupancy rate was recorded at 99.6 percent.
The KCIC said that it fully drew on China's rich expertise in high-speed trains to effectively manage the operation and maintenance of the railway and properly respond to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rains and typhoons. And the railway has successfully maintained smooth operation over a distance exceeding 1.26 million kilometers.
In addition, to better meet the needs of passengers, a dynamic fare policy has been introduced, such as supporting various payment methods and promoting online ticketing, refund and change services, raising the online ticket purchase rate to 86 percent, the KCIC said.
Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway marks 6-month operation with 2.56 mln passengers
China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, set out for maiden sea trials on Wednesday morning.
The ship left Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard at around 8:00 local time. The sea trials will primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier's propulsion and electrical systems.
Since its launch in June 2022, the Fujian has completed its mooring trials, outfitting work and equipment adjustments. It has met the technical requirements for sea trials.
This is China's first domestically-made carrier that uses catapults. With a full-load displacement of more than 80,000 tonnes, the carrier is equipped with electromagnetic catapults and arresting devices.
Different from China's previous two aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong, the Fujian will see a longer sea-trail duration, as it is equipped with more new technologies, such as the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and the electric system. These advancements require thorough verification of their reliability, said Song Xiaojun, a Chinese expert on military affairs.
Apart from technical tests on the carrier's performance including its reliability, environmental adaptability, stability and safety, the sea trails also assess its habitability for sailors by taking into account human factors, said Song.
Once commissioned by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Fujian is expected to play a crucial role in the future development of China's naval capabilities, according to Song.
With three carriers in operation--one undergoing maintenance, one allocated for routine training, and one dedicated to combat training, the Chinese aircraft carrier fleet will significantly enhance its presence in key waters, said Song.
Song also said that the carrier's electromagnetic aircraft launch system will allow a more frequent dispatch of carrier-based aircraft, making it more suitable for missions in strategically important areas. Moreover, the incorporation of these advanced technologies lays a solid foundation for the development of larger aircraft carriers, said Song.
China's aircraft carrier Fujian sets out for maiden sea trials
