"When I went to Malaysia yesterday, they didn't say 'high-speed train', but said 'how about Whoosh?' So, the Whoosh brand is already known to many people abroad," Budi said in a statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Monday (20/11/2023).
He also revealed that there were Malaysians who were also enthusiastic about trying out Whoosh.
"They landed in Kertajati (Airport, in Majalengka, West Java), then stayed overnight in Bandung, took the Whoosh to Jakarta then returned to Malaysia. This was an extraordinary thing," said the minister.
A month after commercial operation, Whoosh received high enthusiasm from the people. Based on data from its operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), the highest recorded passenger movement reached 21,000 passengers a day. Since its operation, Whoosh has served over 400,000 passengers, with an occupancy rate exceeding 95 percent.
Budi also welcomed the enthusiasm for its operation, as he stated when visiting the Halim high-speed railway station in East Jakarta on Sunday (19/11/2023). On the occasion, he greeted and spoke directly to the Whoosh passengers. The people, he said, admitted their satisfaction and pride with the Whoosh.
"Today I wanted to go on a trip by Whoosh, but it turned out to be very full. I've made 36 trips, 18 to Bandung and 18 to Jakarta. What's even more exciting is that those who previously took a car to Bandung or Jakarta, now took a trip by Whoosh. This is President Jokowi's goal to make this a mass railway," he said.
Furthermore, he revealed that many people also use Whoosh as a tourist destination. He gave the example of Bandung people who choose to experience the Whoosh ride.
"As soon as they arrived in Jakarta, they immediately tried out the (Jabodebek) LRT which is connected to Whoosh. Then they went on a culinary tour and then returned to Bandung on the same day," he said. (Antara)
