First bullet train from China arrives in Jakarta

A bullet train and an inspection train made for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway arrived in Indonesia's Jakarta port on Thursday, marking a milestone for the project, China Railway International said.

The trains were developed based on the advanced and mature technology from China-made Fuxing bullet trains, which operate at a speed of 350 km/h.

The trains, adopting Chinese standards, were unveiled in Qingdao, Shandong province last month. The cargo will be transported via road to a high-speed railway section in Bandung. Other testing works such grouping will be carried out on-site, followed with delivering the trains to local operator.

A total of 11 bullet trains and an inspection train were designed and developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co, Ltd. The company has also made changes to adapt to the local environment and routes in Indonesia, and has incorporated Indonesian cultural elements to give passengers a more comfortable traveling experience.

The rest of the 10 bullet trains will be shipped to Indonesia before 2023.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed line is China's first overseas railway project to fully adopt Chinese technology and standards. It is also a landmark project for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

The 142-km line began construction in 2018 and is expected to open to traffic in June.

With trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 350 km per hour, the line will cut the journey between Jakarta and the capital of Indonesia's West Java province from over three hours to 40 minutes.