Jakarta. High-speed train operator Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) has increased the daily operations of its "bullet" train, Whoosh, from an average of 40 journeys per day in February to 44 journeys per day in March.

Emir Monti, the Corporate Communication Manager of KCIC, stated that this decision is geared towards meeting the escalating demand for high-speed rail travel in the region.

According to Emir, Whoosh will serve 40 journeys from Monday to Thursday and 48 journeys from Friday to Sunday, as well as on national holidays and extended weekends.

With this increase in services, the anticipated arrival of Whoosh is set at an average of every 40 minutes.

 "This increased frequency is designed to streamline ticket purchases and enable passengers to choose travel schedules that align better with their needs," he said

Since its commercial launch on October 17, 2023, KCIC has catered to approximately 1.9 million passengers. In February, the daily average volume of Whoosh passengers grew by 15 percent compared to January.

"On weekdays, the passenger volume hovers around 15,000 per day, escalating to up to 20,000 per day on weekends," he added.

The $7.3 billion Whoosh project is Southeast Asia’s first high-speed train. 

Whoosh is funded in part by China's Belt and Road Initiative in which Beijing invests in infrastructure development projects across the globe.