Whoosh: Jakarta to Bandung high-speed train guide (fares, stations, booking)

By the TrainsNews rail expert · updated 13 October 2026

Whoosh is Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway. Since October 2023 it has linked Jakarta and Bandung over 142.3 km at up to 350 km/h, cutting a trip that took three hours or more by road or conventional train to about 45 minutes. With 62 trips a day and fares from around Rp250,000 (roughly USD 15) in Premium Economy, it carried 6.2 million passengers in 2025. Here is everything you need to know: stations, fares, booking, luggage and the engineering behind it.

Whoosh at a glance

Times and frequencies as reported in 2026 by the Indonesian press, quoting KCIC. Not every train stops at Karawang; a Karawang stop adds about 7 minutes.

The stations

• Halim (Jakarta): the Jakarta terminus, in East Jakarta, linked by a skybridge to the LRT Jabodebek light metro. Allow 5–10 minutes for the change, including security.
• Karawang: opened to passengers on 24 December 2024, mainly for the industrial area east of Jakarta.
• Padalarang: the best station for central Bandung. A connecting feeder train runs to Bandung main station in about 18 minutes, timed to Whoosh arrivals and usually included in your Whoosh ticket.
• Tegalluar Summarecon: the Bandung terminus, east of the city, convenient for eastern Bandung. The line's control centre and depot are here.

Whoosh fares

Whoosh uses dynamic pricing: fares depend on the day, the time and how early you book. Standard fares Halim–Padalarang/Bandung, as reported in February 2026:

Indicative fares from press reports quoting KCIC; USD conversion approximate. Peak-period fares can be higher, and off-peak weekday Premium Economy fares have been sold for less. The fare shown in the Whoosh app at booking is the one that applies.

Ways to pay less

• Travel off-peak on weekdays: the cheapest Premium Economy fares are there.
• Groups: 10–20% off for at least 20 passengers on the same trip.
• Frequent Whooser Card: a 6-trip bundle at around Rp225,000 per trip, with the price held at peak times.
• Promotions: KCIC regularly runs flash sales with booking platforms such as tiket.com and Traveloka.

How to book

• Whoosh app or ticket.kcic.co.id: from 14 days before departure until 30 minutes before; pay by bank transfer, QRIS, e-wallet or card.
• Station counters: until 15 minutes before departure, by cash, card or QRIS.
• Ticket machines: until 30 minutes before departure, QRIS only.
• Partner apps: Access by KAI, banking apps and tiket.com also sell Whoosh tickets.

Foreign visitors register with their passport instead of the Indonesian ID card. Check that your card is accepted, or buy at the station counter.

Boarding and luggage

• Gates open 30 minutes before departure and close 5 minutes before. Scan your paper ticket or app QR code; one ticket per person.
• Missed train: tickets are tied to one train, so arrive early. Rescheduling rules have changed over time: check with KCIC before you travel.
• Luggage: up to 3 items (2 suitcases and 1 bag), 20 kg in total, each no larger than 100 × 30 × 40 cm, under the rules published in 2024. Folding bikes, wheelchairs and strollers are accepted; animals, weapons and flammable items are not.

The trains and the line

• Opening: inaugurated on 2 October 2023 by President Joko Widodo; paid service began on 17 October 2023.
• Trains: 11 KCIC400AF trainsets built by CRRC Qingdao Sifang on the Chinese CR400AF "Fuxing" platform, each 8 cars, 208 m long and up to 601 seats (555 Premium Economy, 28 Business, 18 First). They wear a red "Komodo" livery.
• Ridership: about 6 million passengers in 2024 and 6.2 million in 2025, over 12 million since opening by October 2025. Weekend days carry around 20,000 passengers.
• Reliability: KCIC reported 99.9% punctuality and zero accidents up to its second anniversary.

How Whoosh runs at 350 km/h: an engineer's view

At 350 km/h a driver cannot read lineside signals, so Whoosh uses CTCS-3, the Chinese Train Control System level 3, the counterpart of Europe's ERTMS level 2. Movement authorities are sent to the cab by radio over GSM-R from a radio block centre, with balises and track circuits locating each train; the system brakes automatically if the driver exceeds the permitted speed.

Java is a seismic and very rainy island, so the line is fitted with 7 earthquake sensors (detecting tremors up to 25 km away), 8 rain gauges, 17 wind sensors and foreign-object detectors at every overpass: in bad conditions the system cuts speed or stops trains. That is why services slow down during heavy downpours. More than 80 km of the route is on viaducts and there are 13 tunnels, a choice that avoids level crossings and limits land take in a densely populated region.

Cost, debt and the Surabaya question

The project cost about USD 7.27 billion, including a USD 1.2 billion overrun, around 75% of it lent by China Development Bank. KCIC is 60% owned by an Indonesian state consortium led by KAI and 40% by a Chinese consortium. The Indonesian side recorded heavy losses in 2025 and 2026, and the government moved in 2026 to restructure the debt and hand management to the Finance Ministry. Officials say any extension to Surabaya depends on settling Jakarta–Bandung's finances first: no route or timetable has been decided.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Whoosh take from Jakarta to Bandung?

About 30–45 minutes from Halim to Padalarang and about 45–55 minutes to Tegalluar, depending on stops. Add about 18 minutes on the feeder train from Padalarang to central Bandung.

How much is a Whoosh ticket?

Standard fares reported in 2026 are Rp250,000 in Premium Economy, Rp450,000 in Business and Rp600,000 in First, with dynamic pricing. The fare in the app at booking applies.

Which Whoosh station is best for Bandung city centre?

Padalarang, then the connecting feeder train to Bandung station, which KCIC recommends.

Can foreigners buy Whoosh tickets?

Yes: register with your passport in the app or on ticket.kcic.co.id, or buy at the station counter.

How much luggage can I take on Whoosh?

Up to 3 items and 20 kg in total under the published rules, each up to 100 × 30 × 40 cm.

How fast does Whoosh go?

Up to 350 km/h, making it the fastest train in Southeast Asia.

Key takeaways

• Jakarta (Halim) to Bandung in about 45 minutes, 62 trips a day.
• Premium Economy from around Rp250,000; book in the Whoosh app with your passport.
• For central Bandung, get off at Padalarang and take the included feeder train.

Read also

• Haramain High Speed Railway: Makkah–Madinah guide
• Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen: fares and JR Pass
• Paris to Lyon by train
• All our train travel guides

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Sources: KCIC operating data reported by Republika (13 March 2026) and Republika (12 January 2026); fares reported by CNBC Indonesia (3 February 2026); booking and boarding rules reported by Metro TV (9 July 2026); luggage rules reported by detikFinance (April 2024); Karawang station by Viva (23 December 2024); trains by Bisnis.com (2023); signalling and safety systems by Railway Technology; finances by Indonesia Business Post (26 August 2026); Surabaya extension by Bisnis.com (29 June 2026). Information checked on 13 October 2026.