Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated that his ministry has included the plan for the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway and the construction of the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train as a long-term and gradual plan. He added that his ministry has been directed to create the blueprint by President Joko Widodo. For the nearly 700-kilometer route between Jakarta and Surabaya, a quick railway is now being developed.

Compared to ordinary trains, which take 11 hours to travel the same distance between Jakarta and Surabaya in East Java, the high-speed train would complete the trip in 3.5 hours. This travel time estimate is based on an ongoing study conducted by the Transportation Ministry with the KCJB operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC). The Jakarta-Surabaya High-Speed Train is projected to take the route: Jakarta – Karawang – Bandung – Kertajati – Purwokerto – Yogyakarta – Solo – Madiun – Surabaya.

With the success of the high speed train operation, the Ministry of Transportation is confident in designing the upcoming, more efficient high-speed train project. He said that the government and the business sector would work together on the rapid train project between Jakarta and Surabaya. As Jakarta and Surabaya are the country’s business hubs, Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi stated that his government wholeheartedly supports the proposed project. People will have more transit options once the railway project is completed.