Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail extension to Surabaya not a priority: official

[JAKARTA] Indonesia is considering extending its Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail (HSR) to the country’s second-biggest city, Surabaya. But the plan may face significant challenges ranging from hefty costs to land issues.

Adita Irawati, spokesperson for Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry, told The Business Times that while the proposal for a Jakarta-Surabaya link is currently under discussion with China’s state-owned China Railway Group, it is no longer on the country’s national strategic list of projects.

“It (the study) is still ongoing, but will not be prioritised,” she said.