Global Interest in China’s High-Speed Rail Tech Picks Up Speed
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China’s high-speed railway technology is expanding its overseas influence as plans to extend Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung rail line — Southeast Asia’s first bullet train — sparked interest from a host of potential new partners, particularly developing countries, at a recent industry conference in Beijing.
Branded the “Whoosh” — an acronym of an Indonesian phrase meaning “timesaving, optimal operation and excellent system” — the Jakarta-Bandung train can travel up to 350 kph, cutting the journey time between the cities by two-thirds to 40 to 50 minutes. Since it began operation in October 2023, the railway has transported more than 10 million passengers, with a record daily passenger volume exceeding 25,000, according to Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, president director of operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, a Sino-Indonesian joint venture, at a roundtable discussion at the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing, which ran from July 8 to Friday.
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- China’s high-speed railway technology powered Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung bullet train, operating since October 2023, which has carried over 10 million passengers and cut trip times to under 50 minutes.
- The project had a 12% economic internal rate of return, outpacing the Asian Development Bank’s 9% viability benchmark, but construction costs reached $7.2 billion, exceeding the $6 billion budget.
- The success has spurred interest from countries like Zimbabwe, and China has signed/cooperated with over 40 countries in railway projects.
- China State Railway Group Co. Ltd.
- China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. has collaborated with over 40 countries on railway design, construction, and operation. They recently signed cooperation agreements with railway departments from countries like France, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, focusing on cross-border transportation and infrastructure modernization. Notably, they extended their partnership with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC, which began in 2014.
- Export-Import Bank of China
- The Export-Import Bank of China's chief risk officer, Li Zhongyuan, highlighted the "very attractive" 12% Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of the Jakarta-Bandung rail line, signifying its positive economic impact. Li also noted that high-speed rail projects require careful consideration of financing sustainability, diverse funding channels, and risk control due to their long payback periods.
- PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China
- PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China is a Sino-Indonesian joint venture operating the "Whoosh" high-speed railway, Southeast Asia's first bullet train. The line connects Jakarta and Bandung, reducing travel time significantly. Since its October 2023 launch, it has served over 10 million passengers, demonstrating the success of adopted Chinese high-speed train technology.
- Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC
- Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC is Kazakhstan's national railway company. They signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. at the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail. This agreement deepens a partnership established in 2014 and focuses on infrastructure upgrades and technological innovation.
- 2014：
- China State Railway and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC began their partnership.
- October 2023：
- The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway began operation in Indonesia.
- In 2023：
- The Jakarta-Bandung rail line contributed 0.6% to Jakarta and West Java’s GDP.
- In late May 2025：
- Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that plans to build a high-speed rail line from Jakarta to Surabaya had been placed on the Indonesian government’s agenda.
- By July 8-12, 2025：
- The 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail was held in Beijing, at which Indonesia reported the Jakarta-Bandung line had transported over 10 million passengers and reached a record daily passenger volume exceeding 25,000.
- July 2025：
- At the World Congress in Beijing, representatives from multiple countries, including Zimbabwe, expressed interest in China’s high-speed rail technology; China State Railway held talks and signed cooperation agreements with France, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.
- July 2025：
- According to Riyadi, the plan for the Jakarta–Surabaya high-speed rail line was still in the preliminary study phase.
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