Karawang Station on Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway officially opens

Passengers wait for a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train on the platform of Karawang Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in West Java, Indonesia, Dec. 24, 2024. Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

JAKARTA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday.

At the inauguration ceremony, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, described Karawang region as a leading rice production hub and a major center for industrial parks, highlighting the station's role in reducing travel times and boosting economic opportunities.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, locally known as Whoosh, represents a transformative leap in Indonesia's transportation infrastructure. The 142.3-km high-speed railway, with a maximum speed of 350 km per hour, has cut travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from over three hours to just 40 minutes. ■

A passenger poses for photos with a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train on the platform of Karawang Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in West Java, Indonesia, Dec. 24, 2024. Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, speaks during the inauguration ceremony of Karawang Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in West Java, Indonesia, Dec. 24, 2024. Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 12, 2024 shows Karawang Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in West Java, Indonesia. Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken on Dec. 24, 2024 shows an interior view of Karawang Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in West Java, Indonesia. Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken on Dec. 24, 2024 shows a ticket gate of Karawang Station of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in West Java, Indonesia. Karawang Station, a key stop on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)