"We are preparing to develop a medium-speed train route from Jakarta to Surabaya. We will hold a meeting with the Transportation Ministry to explore the concept before further talks with Japan," the Deputy III of Infrastructure Coordination Sector of the Maritime Coordination Ministry, Ridwan Djamaluddin, said here on Monday.
According to Ridwan, the government was still exploring the feasibility of the concept for such a train that will provide a means of transportation in the northern Java Island.
Ridwan added that the Japanese government was still waiting for the Indonesian government to come up with such a train concept.
The Japanese will carry out a feasibility study after they receive the proposal from the ministry, he added.
The government, said the Deputy, planned to connect the Japanese medium-speed train railway with the Chinese medium-speed train that provides service to Bandung in the West Java Province.
"Though we have yet to discuss the program, the railway would be connected later," Ridwan assured.
Previously, the Maritime Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan had visited Japan to invite investors to construct the medium-speed train.
"We have delivered an official letter to the Japanese government to be involved with the project. I believe the Japanese technology is appropriate for this project," he stressed in a press release received here on Friday (Oct 7).
The medium-speed train can reach a speed of 180 kilometers to 200 kilometer per hour and can shorten the traveling time from Jakarta to Surabaya, bringing it down to three and a half hours.
During his visit to Japan, Panjaitan had met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several ministers related to the transportation sector.
Panjaitan hoped the cooperation with Japan in building the medium-speed train will also result in transfer of technology to Indonesia. He hoped that Japan will prioritize the local content made in Indonesia for the transportation project.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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