The Indonesian Transportation Ministry has signed a co-operation document on human resources research and development with KCIC, the China-Indonesia joint firm to operate Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway (HSR) train, related to operation of HSR train in the country.

According to Xinhua news agency, the signing of the cooperation was ultimately intended to prepare Indonesian workers in the operation and maintenance of Jakarta-Bandung HSR train.

"We want to assure that level of service and level of safety provided by the HSR train are excellent. We will learn a lot," Indonesia Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in a statement released Friday.

The minister stressed that the learning process in HSR operation is a key task to assure the train's excellence of service and safety.

The co-operation document with a validity period of five years would cover co-operation in various fields of training and education program for professional workers assigned to operate and maintain the Jakarta-Bandung HSR trains, research and development in train transport sector, information changing on knowledge and technology development of train transport, provision and exchange of related experts, usage of HSR facility and infrastructure and other terms approved by the two sides.

The minister said teams from the ministry's institution to supervise train transport would be sent to China and several other countries to learn about the operation of HSR trains in those respective countries.

Projects to settle the Jakarta-Bandung HSR train transport system that spans 142 kilometres between the two cities are now underway. The HSR train is scheduled to commence its commercial operation in 2021. Once operational, it will shorten the travel time from the currently three hours with regular train or cars to just 40 minutes.

The Jakarta-Bandung HSR train is a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiatives, and is highly promoted by Chinese and Indonesian leaders.

- Bernama