The ceremony was attended by officials including transport minister Mr Budi Karya Sumadi, the director of Indonesian Railways, Mr Didik Hartantyo, and the Transportation Ministry’s director general of railways, Mr Zulfikri.
Work to upgrade the line, which runs in a U shape from Cirebon, on Java’s northern coast, via Purwokerto, Kroya, Yogyakarta, Solo and Madiun, to Jombang, began 2015. Improvements include track doubling and the construction of second bores for three pre-existing, colonial-era tunnels in Ijo, Notog and Kebasen, with a total drilling length of 1.346km.
The upgrades are expected to increase capacity on the line from 172 trains per day to 221.
Upgrades to the remaining 65km of line connecting Jombang, Mojokerto and Wonokromo, East Java, are scheduled to be completed in 2022.
“With the completion of the double track railway crossing south Java, three large agglomeration cities will be connected, namely Jabodetabek, Joglosemar, and Gerbangkertasusila,” Budi says.
