Sofwan Dedy Backs Redesign of Whoosh Service Flow Amid Fiscal Constraints

PARLEMENTARIA, West Bandung - Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sofwan Dedy Ardyanto is calling for improvements to Whoosh high-speed rail services through a redesign of service flows and stronger integration between transport modes. He said a number of issues involving station access and passenger transfers could be addressed through better service arrangements and coordination across agencies, without always relying on large budgets.

Sofwan made the remarks after Commission V’s working visit to Padalarang Station in West Bandung, West Java, on Friday (13/11/2026). He said that from the outset, Whoosh had been designed as part of an integrated transport system, so passengers should be able to transfer smoothly from one mode to another.

“The Whoosh KCIC high-speed rail program was initially designed as part of an integrated transport system. An integrated system means that different modes are connected, with no delays or obstacles when transferring to another mode of transport. Passengers use a mode of transport to get here, and they should also be able to use one when leaving,” he said.

However, based on his observations on the ground, Sofwan said integration was not yet working optimally. He identified two main issues: connectivity between Whoosh and feeder trains, and road access to the stations.

Regarding feeder services, he questioned whether their schedules and passenger capacity matched the number of high-speed rail passengers. He said capacity planning for the two services needed to be aligned to prevent an imbalance in passenger capacity.

“Are the schedules already synchronized? What about the number of seats? Sometimes they’re full, sometimes they’re empty. This train has around 600 seats, while the feeder has only 300. How was that planned? That’s the first issue,” he said.

The next issue is access to the stations in both Karawang and Padalarang. Sofwan said that because the stations are located in densely populated areas, passengers often face traffic congestion on their way there. To address the problem, Sofwan proposed a redesign, or a new plan that takes into account how conditions have evolved since Whoosh began operating. He said the planning process should continue with evaluations and adjustments based on actual conditions on the ground.

“That’s how planning works: you plan, implement, evaluate, and then get feedback. What needs to be done now is redesigning—replanning based on how conditions have changed,” he said.

He stressed that the redesign did not mean new construction, but rather improvements to service flows. One example is organizing vehicles dropping off passengers at Halim Station so they do not obstruct other traffic.

“It’s not a physical redesign, but a redesign of the flow. Make improvements. At Halim, access is obstructed because cars dropping off passengers often pile up. It should take only two to three minutes, but people end up spending 10 minutes there. That doesn’t require money,” he explained.

To ease congestion around Padalarang Station, he called for traffic management measures coordinated with the police, including the possible regulation or closure of certain roads during peak hours. He also cautioned against using budget constraints as a reason to delay all improvements.

“During today’s visit, I emphasized that the solution doesn’t always have to start with funding. First, do what can be done with minimal funding. Don’t keep saying there’s no budget or no funding for land acquisition. If the land can’t be acquired yet, then don’t plan that project for now,” he stressed.

He added that all government spending must be assessed in terms of urgency and priority, particularly amid fiscal conditions that call for prudent use of public funds.

“Every government expenditure, even when it serves the public interest, must be properly assessed. Is it a priority or not? That’s my response,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Director General of Railways Allan Tandiono acknowledged that the need for access to Padalarang Station had grown as passenger numbers increased. He said the station was not only a departure and arrival point, but also a hub connecting various transport modes.

“Support is needed to increase the capacity and quality of road access, improve traffic management, and provide facilities for passenger pick-up and drop-off so people can travel to and from the station more smoothly,” Allan said.

He explained that Whoosh currently serves four stations: Halim, Karawang, Padalarang, and Tegalluar. Of the 142-kilometer route, around 104.8 kilometers fall within the area served by the Bandung Railway Engineering Center (BTP Bandung). He also described Padalarang as an important station for high-speed rail services in West Java.

By October 2026, Whoosh had carried more than 18 million passengers since operations began. The average number of daily passengers rose from 12,618 in 2023 to 17,630 in October 2026. On weekends, the figure can exceed 20,000 passengers a day.

Passenger numbers have also risen on the feeder train connecting Padalarang Station with Bandung Station. Allan said its average daily ridership increased from 6,459 in 2023 to 7,901 in October 2026, with an occupancy rate of 53 to 65 percent.

According to Allan, improving access to Padalarang Station requires cross-sector coordination, including the involvement of private-sector parties in developing supporting infrastructure. He said he hoped these access improvements would not only ease traffic around the station, but also strengthen integration between transport modes.

Allan also said Padalarang Station could become a new gateway for tourism in West Java as connectivity to various economic centers and tourist destinations continues to improve.

“Padalarang Station also has the potential to become a new gateway for tourism in West Java. This will have a positive impact, as more economic centers and tourist destinations become directly connected to the capital by high-speed rail. The economic potential is excellent, not only for Padalarang but for West Java as a whole,” he said. (APP/um)