Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway handles 18 mln passenger trips in 3 years

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, locally known as Whoosh, has operated safely for three full years as of Saturday, handling over 18 million passenger trips since it entered commercial service, according to China Railway International Co., Ltd.

During the three-year period, the first high-speed rail line in Indonesia operated a total of 58,666 bullet train trips, safely traveling over 8.9 million kilometers with an on-time performance rate of 99.4 percent, said the company.

The number of daily train services has increased from 14 at the initial stage of operation to a peak of 62 trips, with the highest single-day passenger volume reaching 26,770, official data showed.

In terms of service enhancements, the Whoosh team has tailored ticketing options and service models to cater to various travel habits and budgets. Flexible dynamic pricing, multi-channel ticketing, frequent-flyer-style loyalty cards, and ticket modification services have been introduced to provide passengers with more versatile travel options.

Since entering operation, the railway has reshaped urban transportation along the route, attracting businesses in tourism, catering, and retail to cluster around railway stations, thereby creating job opportunities and boosting income for local residents.

To date, stations along the 142.3-km route host 117 commercial vendors, including 29 micro, small, and medium enterprises, offering local food, beverages, souvenirs, and creative cultural products.

While boosting local consumption, the railway has also attracted an increasing number of international travelers. The operation team has improved station facilities, commercial amenities, and last-mile transport connectivity.

According to operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, of 18 million-plus passenger trips, over 960,000 were international passenger trips, giving a strong boost to the local tourism and related industries.

To ensure safety, the team tailored China's high-speed rail management to Indonesia's weather and seismic conditions through advanced real-time monitoring and emergency response systems.

Whoosh, also the first high-speed rail line in Southeast Asia, now operates at speeds of up to 350 km per hour, reducing travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from around four hours to about 45 minutes.

Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway handles 18 mln passenger trips in 3 years

The ongoing 140th Canton Fair in south China's Guangzhou City is showcasing innovative and cutting-edge products to meet global demand, highlighting China's advances in high-end manufacturing.

The 140th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, opened on Thursday with record shares of new and green products among its exhibits.

Rather than focusing solely on standard products, this edition's exhibitors are placing greater emphasis on customized offerings, drawing directly on buyer feedback to better match the needs of overseas markets.

"The Canton Fair serves as a window for our company to the global market. Being on site helps us understand the specific needs of different countries and regions. For instance, clients from the Middle East told us about the severe water shortages they face at home, which prompted us to adjust our products accordingly. Deals reached at the Canton Fair now account for roughly 30 percent of our total orders from the Middle East," said exhibitor Huang Jian.

The first phase of the fair, themed "Advanced Manufacturing," features over 12,000 exhibitors, showcasing electronics, household appliances and industrial automation. It also focuses on new energy, intelligent manufacturing and embodied intelligence, with 17 zones dedicated to emerging and future industries, including service robots, drones and display technologies.

"At the 140th Canton Fair, the Machinery and Electronics zone accounts for over 80 percent of all booths in the first phase. Intelligence, green, and integrated solutions have emerged as the new trend for Chinese machinery and electronics going global, with AI and green technology becoming new drivers of growth. For overseas buyers, attending the Canton Fair is no longer just about purchasing products. They come here to uncover emerging industry trends and seek long-term collaboration partnerships," said Shi Yonghong, vice president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.

The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases in Guangzhou from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4.

Over the past 70 years, the Canton Fair has grown into China's largest and longest-running international trade event, with the most complete product range, the largest number of buyers and the highest transaction volume.

Advanced manufacturing products sought after by global buyers at Canton Fair