Bullet train in Java

davita

The news that the President scrapped the 'Bullet train' Jakarta to Bandung project appears to be another flip-flop. The Enterprise Minister recently announced that the Chinese were willing to build the line, stations and offer technology transfer by building the trains in Indonesia, including an aluminum plant for raw materials..... 'free of charge'. It's clear the Chinese would love to have a foothold in a country of 250 million with an aspiring middle-class and is lending Yuan hand over fist. I just wonder what the downside will be to the average Indonesian. However, it might be interesting to contemplate extending the 'bullet train' to JKT-Bandung-Semarang-Surabaya...and possibly a bridge to Gillimanuk and on to Denpaser. I think the distance Jkt-Bali to be about 1200Kms so a train at approx 300kms speed and 3x10 min stops would take about 4.5 hours. We often fly Bali-JKT-vv and the whole trip normally takes 4 hours...house to house.

Nydave

Im not sure if having a bullet train between Jakarta and Bandung makes any sence,im nor sure of the distance but for some reason 150 kilometers comes to mind,maybe its a bit more,so does spending such a massive amount on a train system that only covers a short distance make sence at all,

Markit

I've read they're looking at doing it under the PPI scheme which has been a terrible idea when used to finance the NHS in the UK as it means that many hospitals there are too large for purpose, out of date and/or failing but the "people" will owe money on them for the next 30+ years to the original companies that paid for them. It has been an enormous windfall for the UK politicos (Tony Blaire) that punched them through - geeee I wonder if that might be why they're so keen here?!

Nydave

Seems we were all wrong in thinking the government had for once made a wise decision in scrapping the bullet train project,, According to the Jakarta Globe the government has already sent representatives to both China and Japan to try and convince both to tender bids for the project again but this time using a slower train, Could this be classed as another flip flop ???

davita

Nydave wroteIm not sure if having a bullet train between Jakarta and Bandung makes any sence,im nor sure of the distance but for some reason 150 kilometers comes to mind,maybe its a bit more,so does spending such a massive amount on a train system that only covers a short distance make sence at all,

You are absolutely correct Nydave...and that was the reason 'Jokowi" cancelled the project whilst the Japanese and Chinese were still at the bidding stage...the train can never reach its operating speed to make any sense of its capability. However, once the Chinese said it wont cost Indonesian government anything...the game changed...:greedy_dollars: Watch Indonesia capitulate when the Chinese fight ASEAN for the right to control maritime and air traffic in the South China Sea.....as they will be so coupled to China.