Public prefers Whoosh for homecoming trips due to quick travel time
Public opinion holds the Whoosh high-speed train to be highly effective for returning home to one’s village, thanks to its rapid travel time and reasonably priced tickets.
This was stated by Kein, a young man planning to return to Bandung, when met at the Whoosh Station in East Jakarta on Friday.
“It is far quicker if taking the Whoosh. So I do not need to depart far in advance to avoid traffic jams because taking this (Whoosh) only takes around one hour,” he said.
According to Kein, this year some of his friends chose to return home from Jakarta to Bandung using private vehicles.
He said his friends were instead stuck on the toll road for more than five hours due to traffic jams. “Although there are pros and cons, if taking a private car you can be more mobile to go anywhere. But taking the Whoosh is quite worth it,” Kein explained.
Ahmad, another passenger met at the station, expressed a similar view. According to Ahmad, one can return home safely and comfortably because the facilities inside the Whoosh train are quite good.
With Whoosh, he said he no longer needs to use travel vehicles for homecoming, as he did a few years ago.
Although he can enjoy decent facilities inside the train, Ahmad still noted the distance of the Whoosh station from the city centre.
He said he has to take feeder transportation again from the station to Bandung City. “The hope is that there is a station location close to the city. So as not to have to travel twice,” he said.
Previously, General Manager of Corporate Secretary at PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), Eva Chairunisa, said Whoosh train ticket sales reached 145,000 during the 2026 Lebaran homecoming peak period.
Eva said the data indicates an increase in ticket sales during the Lebaran homecoming peak compared to normal days.
In a press release received in Jakarta on Friday, the figure of 145,000 tickets was recorded up to today, precisely at 08.00 WIB.
“The total tickets sold have reached around 145,000 tickets for the travel period from 13 to 30 March 2026,” as quoted from the press release.
For sales on this day alone, Eva continued, PT KCIC has successfully sold 10,000 Whoosh train tickets. The sales figure is estimated to continue to increase and reach 18,000 tickets.
To anticipate a larger number of passengers, KCIC has strengthened the security system at every Whoosh train station.
The strengthening of the security system involves deploying 551 combined personnel consisting of KCIC security officers to TNI and Police personnel.
In addition, KCIC has also placed 309 internal company post officers at all Whoosh stations, the Central Post of the Ministry of Transportation, and various operational work areas of Whoosh.
All of this is done to maintain the security and comfort of passengers while at the station or inside the train.