REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The office of the Coordinating Minister for Matitime said revitalization of the Jakarta-Surabaya railway will remain under the original concept that the train will have a speed of 160 kilometer per hour.

"The concept has not been changed that the speed of the train is 160 km per hour," a deputy for Infrastructure Coordination Ridwan Djamaluddin said here on Tuesday.

However, the feasibility study on the concept of the Jakarta - Surabaya railway is being carried out by the Transport Ministry with technical support from the Technology Application and Study Board (BPPT), Ridwan said.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also takes part in the study.

"Decision is yet to be made on the speed, diesel or electric train, new train or upgrading the existing ones, Ridwan said.

He said the plan is that Jakarta-Surabaya railway would be served with high speed trains, but currently the government still awaits the result of the feasibility study.

"In the future development is for high speed train, but we have to wait for the result of the study," he said.

Also read: Kalla, Abe discuss Jakarta-Surabaya railway project

Earlier, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said there are two conditions that have to be fulfilled for the revitalization of the Jakarta-Surabaya rail track for speed train.

The two conditions are that the 1,000 level grade crossings have to be removed and the use of electrification system.

"The government wants a semi speed train with a speed of 160 km per hour. It could become a reality with electrification and the removal of around 1,000 level grade crossings," the minister said.

There should be significant change in the Jakarta-Surabaya railway route especially with the alternative in mode of transport by air, which take only 1.5 hour to cover the distance, he said.

"Air transport would take 1.5 hour, but one hour is needed waiting at the airport. Altogether travelers will spend at least 3.5 hours. By semi speed trains travelers will need 5 hours. This is quite competitive, but it would not be competitive if its would take 7 house by train," he said.

The government has decided to select Japan as its partner in the revitalization of the Jakarta-Surabaya railway.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was quoted as saying that there would be joint study with Japan and construction is expected to be completed before the end of 2019.

Ridwan Djamaludin said the government would consider two schemes for the construction: removing level grade crossings or constructing elevated railways.

The project aims to increase the speed of the rail connecting the two cities, from around 90 kilometers per hour to 160 kilometers per hour.

The government is also still considering the technology that will power the trains: diesel, which will cost Rp 30 trillion (US$2.2 billion), or electricity with its Rp 80 trillion price tag.

Previously Japan lost to China in its bid to build rail track for high speed train between Jakarta and Bandung of West Java.

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