Purwagandhi expressed hope that the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station would encourage more people to shift from private vehicles to public transportation.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), along with Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi, officially inaugurated the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station in Karawang, West Java.

"Karawang, as one of the largest industrial centers, now has modern transportation access that connects industrial areas, tourist destinations, business centers, and residential areas,” Minister Purwagandhi remarked after the station's inauguration, as stated in a written press release received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Minister Purwagandhi emphasized that the presence of the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station will ensure time efficiency, with the Jakarta-Karawang trip taking only about 15 minutes and Karawang-Bandung, around 20 minutes. This has the potential to stimulate and enhance the economy of Karawang and its surrounding areas.

Purwagandhi expressed hope that the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station would encourage more people to shift from private vehicles to public transportation. Reducing the use of private vehicles will ultimately help overcome traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and support the vision of environment-friendly transportation.

"The construction of the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station is a concrete example of collaboration between the government and various parties in providing modern, fast, and sustainable transportation solutions," Purwagandhi stated.

Coordinating Minister AHY affirmed that the presence of the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station could increase the number of passengers and help with transportation to and from Jakarta, including Bandung.

"Hopefully, this will improve the welfare of the community and expand the potential for economic growth, not only for Karawang but also nationally," Minister AHY remarked.

With the operation of the Karawang High-Speed Railway Station, the Whoosh High-Speed Train will now stop at four stations.

Since the start of operation in October 2023, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train has shown significant progress.

The average daily passenger number, reaching around 13,700 at the start of operations, has currently increased rapidly to approximately 19 thousand per day on weekdays and 21 thousand per day on weekends. The highest figure recorded was 23,400 passengers per day on holidays.

In the first phase of operation, the Karawang Station will serve 20 trips per day out of a total of 48 trips for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train.

In the second phase, which is planned to start in early February 2025, the number of Whoosh trips will be increased to 62 per day, with 31 trips stopping at the Karawang station.







Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Arie Novarina
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