Jakarta. Ridership on the Whoosh high-speed train rose 6.3 percent in the first ten months of 2025 compared with the same period last year, as the service continues to gain popularity among travelers between Jakarta and Bandung.

Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), the operator of the line, said Thursday that more than 5.1 million passengers used Whoosh from January to October, up from 4.8 million during the same period in 2024. Since launching commercial operations in October 2023, the country’s first high-speed train has carried more than 12.2 million passengers.

KCIC Corporate Secretary Eva Chairunisa said the increase indicates growing public confidence in Whoosh as a fast, efficient, and reliable transport option.

“This rise in passengers shows that more people are trusting the Whoosh service as their preferred mode of travel between Jakarta and Bandung,” Eva said on Thursday.

The growth was supported by the addition of Karawang Station, an expanded schedule of 62 daily trips, and improved intermodal connectivity. Each Whoosh station is now linked to multiple transport options --including LRT, commuter trains, buses, shuttles, taxis, and ride-hailing services-- allowing passengers to easily connect to airports, city centers, and tourism hubs across Greater Jakarta and Bandung.

Whoosh, Southeast Asia’s first high-speed rail service, currently serves between 20,000 and 30,000 passengers daily. However, the 142-kilometer line, a joint venture between Indonesian state-owned firms under Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) and Chinese partners, has faced cost overruns and mounting debt. KAI said annual interest payments to China have reached Rp 2 trillion ($123 million), exceeding its projected yearly revenue of Rp 1.5 trillion.

 Jakarta is currently in talks with Beijing to restructure the loan amid concerns the debt could strain government finances.