Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway: Indonesian People's Train to Happiness

Written by Tang Qi / Translated by Tang Huiqun

In the spring of 2015, an Indonesian girl studying in Henan, China, took the high-speed train for the first time. The intelligent and convenient service and the extremely fast train have greatly impressed her. 

"It's so fast! It covers 374 kilometers from Luoyang to Xi'an in just 4 hours. But in Indonesia, it takes about the same time to travel only 142 kilometers from Jakarta to Bandung. At that time, how I wish I could take the high-speed train home just like packing my luggage." the girl said excitedly. 

And today, her dream will soon come true. As Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway is about to open, more and more Indonesians like the girl will get on the train to happiness by their own. 

Good days are coming with the high-speed train 

Three casting yards were built on the whole line of the Jakarta- Bandung High-speed Railway, of which the No. 4 casting yard built by China Railway No. 4 Engineering Group (CREC4 in short) serves as the birthplace of the first overseas girder of China's high-speed railway construction and represents the first overseas smart casting yard of China's high-speed railway to "go global." 

The construction of this significant casting yard has brought about a profound change in the lives of the locals. Prior to the establishment of the casting yard in 2018, the underdeveloped infrastructure and outdated living conditions caused great inconvenience to more than 1,800 villagers who lived in densely-populated KOPO in Bandung. 

After the casting yard was built, great changes took place in all aspects of villagers' lives. At first, the villagers were still unfamiliar with the high-speed railway and somewhat resistant to the construction of the casting yard. Yet with the coordination and communication of all parties, the doubts in the minds of the villagers gradually disappeared and they began to accept this "new thing" that they had never seen before. 

The office area of the No.4 casting yard was designed to create a park-like atmosphere with pavilions, swings, ponds, wooden bridges, sand tables, and high-speed railway models, in an effort to engage with the local villagers. This familiar and novel scene helped to build trust and familiarity with the villagers who then turn to go for a stroll and take photos in this "park." 

To satisfy villagers' curiosity, the casting yard was opened to them without interfering with ongoing work. Flying kites and doves, swinging, and playing basketball, the villagers enjoy their fun here. Spending much time in the place, the villagers not only witness the entire process that goes into constructing the casting yard but also comprehend the value of the Jakarta- Bandung High-speed Railway. They are now looking forward to the opening of the high-speed railway. 

"I expect the day when the high-speed railway starts operating, so we can also sit in the train built in front of our own house to the capital Jakarta and stroll around," Wawan, the local village head, said with great anticipation. 

Fortunately, the train, which bears the villagers' expectation, is bringing them to a better life. Before the cast yard came into the village, many people were unemployed and could only make a living by selling their own fruits and other small items or working in small local workshops. Their incomes were meager at best. However, since the implementation of the project, a variety of new jobs have been created, such as car drivers, safety supervisors, steel workers, translators, and kitchen helpers, providing the villagers with more promising opportunities. 

At the same time, transportation here has also been greatly improved. In the past, the dilapidated roads around the casting yard made it difficult for villagers to travel to other places, but after the project was completed, a total of more than 1.8 kilometers of China-funded roads to the three surrounding villages was built. The construction of these new roads has gained the trust and admiration of the villagers. Despite the language barrier, locals have coined the phrase "China, CREC Bagus!" (China, CREC Excellent!) as a common expression of their appreciation. 

Hand over the steering wheel to the Indonesian people 

If the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway has made the happy life of the Indonesian people become a beautiful landscape outside the window, then only by handing over the "steering wheel" of this "happy train" to the Indonesian people themselves can this scenery be preserved forever as the high-speed railway starts operating. 

Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway is the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, where there is no prior experience in operating and maintaining high-speed railways, the foremost task is to promptly train a team of skilled professionals. In order to address this problem, the Chinese and Indonesian companies, along with educational agencies, decided to jointly hold a series of training sessions. 

On February 27, 2023, the first training courses for the operation and maintenance personnel of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway was officially held at the Indonesian Railway Vocational Technical School. This training class, which is provided by the Chinese operation and maintenance management team, as well as Chinese railroad-related colleges and universities, marks the first class for Indonesia's high-speed railway that has cultivated the first batch of operation and maintenance staffs for Indonesia as a guarantee for the construction and operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway. 

Over 170 Indonesian students have joined the class and received training for positions of Electric Multiple Units train drivers, operation control center dispatchers, emergency responders, and train mechanics. The duration of theoretical training will take from three to six months, depending on the specific profession. Upon completion of theoretical training, students should pass an exam to get certification and will be arranged for practical training on the railway. 

As teachers are all Chinese from Southwest Jiaotong University and other Chinese universities, the training courses adopt the method of online learning and offline translation to facilitate effective communication between teachers and students. During the class, two interpreters in the classroom will translate the Chinese teachers' speeches into Indonesian in real time and answer their questions in time. After class, more than 10 written translators are also assigned to translate Chinese lesson plans and courseware into Indonesian and send them to students in advance in a bid to prepare for the lessons. 

Bagus Bima, a train driver who has worked for the Indonesian National Railways for four and a half years, participated in the training. He said gladly, "Chinese technology is more advanced and it will provide a safer and more convenient work condition for train drivers. I am confident that I can drive high-speed trains myself in the future." 

"During the training, I receive my first salary in my life, which is much higher than the average salary in Madiun," said Luthfiant, who graduated from the Indonesian Railway Vocational Technical School and is now attending a training course in dispatch management. "I think the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway will not only boost Indonesia's economy but also improve our lives."

Outside the teaching building, there is a placard that reads in English, "The Future Begins Here." China not only constructs the high-speed railway network in Indonesia, but also actively nurtures native talents, which is a true reflection of the Chinese proverb "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." We believe that the Indonesian people will soon be able to steer their own train towards prosperity and happiness.

Reach the destination and touch your heart 

The Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway is a people-centric project that has been jointly constructed by railway builders from China and Indonesia. It signifies the strong bond of friendship between the two countries and has truly contributed to the well-being of the two peoples.

Friendship between the peoples is the key to state-to-state relations. During the process of building the project, despite different languages and cultural customs, the Chinese workers show complete respect for the religious beliefs and customs of their Indonesian colleagues. Likewise, the Indonesian employees also gain a greater comprehension of China thanks to the high-speed railway. Chen Tianming, an Indonesian worker who studied and lived in China for some time, is now able to join CREC and devote himself to the localization of the company thanks to the high-speed railway. 

As part of the cross-cultural working team in the company, Chen has utilized creative design, videography, and social media to promote videos about Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway project. Through his effort, more individuals are now able to gain knowledge and comprehension about China and its advanced technology in high-speed railways. 

"We have received many positive feedbacks. Being able to promote Chinese culture and the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway project in my work has brought me immense fulfillment!" Chen Tianming shared. 

With the joint efforts of both China and Indonesia, more and more Indonesian people are looking forward to the operation of the high-speed railway. "Look, Red Komodo is coming!" On the day of the trial operation of the test section of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway in 2022, Indonesian online celebrity Dadan Nandar excitedly announced to the screen and shared the joyful moment with his followers on the live stream. 

Today, the high-speed railway has attracted great attention in Indonesia. Whenever major construction or trial operation takes place, influential figures like Dadan will visit the site to capture photos and share these pivotal moments with their audience on live streaming platforms.

From the smiling villagers along the line, the proud Indonesian workers, to the Indonesian net citizens, the Indonesian people who yearn for a better life look forward to taking the "train to happiness" of Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway. This summer, the highlight belonging to the Indonesian people is coming.