Indonesia, Japan Sign Agreement on Semi Fast Train
Delegates of Japanese Government and Indonesian Government pose for a group photo after signing an agreement on Jakarta-Surabaya fast train, in Jakarta, Tuesday (25/9). (Ministry of Transportation Public Relations/ES)
The Government of Indonesia and the Government of Japan on Tuesday (24/9) signed a Summary Record on the Java North Line Upgrading Project to follow up Jakarta-Surabaya semi high-speed railway project in Indonesian capital Jakarta.
The Summary Record – which was signed by Minister of Economic Affairs Embassy of Japan Tadayuki Miyashita and Ministry of Transportation’s Director-General of Railways Zulfikri – is a note on technical matters that has been agreed by both parties, including the width of the track, the type of construction, the signaling system, the speed design and the type of rolling stock, the stages of construction, the process to clean up Right of Way of Railway by constructing flyover, underpass, or pedestrian bridges, empowerment of the national railroad industry or local content, as well as project financing schemes through government-to-business cooperation (KPBU).
Technical matters mentioned in the Summary Record will determine the success of project implementation in which the next step is to conduct the preparatory survey.
This phase – which is carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team – is projected to be completed in October 2020.
“The JICA consultant team will submit the initial results of the study by the end of May 2020 to provide an objective picture of the project that can assist the Government of Indonesia in making decisions both about technical matters, financing scheme, and operational policies,” said Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, who also attended the event.
On that occasion, the Minister also expressed appreciation to the Japanese Government for their active role in this project, adding that the project is expected to be enjoyed by the public immediately.
“If land acquisition process takes place in 2021, the construction may begin in 2022. Thus, some railways segments can come into operation in mid-2024,” the Minister said, adding that he expected the first segment to be operated is that connecting Jakarta and Cirebon which will be followed by other segments so that Jakarta-Surabaya can be connected by 2025.
The Java North Line Upgrading Project will shorten the travel time from Jakarta to Surabaya to 5 hours and 30 minutes at 160 km per hour speed. It will also improve safety aspects since there will be no level crossings anymore and will promote domestic industry through the use of local content in developing the project.
In this project, the Governments of Indonesia and Japan have also agreed to uphold security and safety aspects as they have done in the development of MRT Jakarta.
For the record, Jakarta – Surabaya semi-fast train is one of the National Strategic Projects regulated in Presidential Regulation Number 3 of 2016 on Acceleration of National Strategic Projects as lastly amended by Presidential Regulation Number 58 of 2018. (Ministry of Transportation Public Relations/ES)
Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : M. Ersan Pamungkas
