Whoosh High-Speed Train: Jakarta to Bandung Travel Guide (2025)
The “Whoosh” is Southeast Asia’s first true high-speed train — and I’ve got to say, it lives up to the hype. Zipping from Jakarta to Bandung in just 30–50 minutes at speeds of up to 350 km/hour, it’s fast, smooth, and seriously efficient.
Hyped to ride the fastest train in Southeast Asia! Let’s go :D
Run by PT KCIC since 2023 — a joint venture with China Railway — the Whoosh has quickly become a major upgrade for travel in West Java. And while I’m still skeptical of China-backed megaprojects abroad, I have to admit: this one is impressive.
I happened to ride the Whoosh during the Waisak long weekend in May 2025 — the busiest day on record so far, with over 25,000 passengers — and even then, the whole experience from station to station was impressively smooth. In this post, I’ll share exactly what it was like, plus all the tips you’ll need to plan your own trip.
A model replica of the Whoosh train in Halim Station, Jakarta
TL;DR
🚄 Whoosh is Indonesia’s new high-speed train, cutting Jakarta–Bandung travel time to just 30–50 minutes
🪑 Premium Economy is comfy enough for the short ride; Business and First Class prices are fixed year-round
🎫 Ticket prices range from IDR 275,000–600,000, depending on class, time, and day
📅 Book in advance — trains often sell out days ahead, especially on weekends and holidays
📍 Departs from Halim Station in East Jakarta, accessible via Jabodebek LRT or rideshare
🛤️ Arrives at Padalarang or Tegalluar Station — use Grab, GoJek or the free feeder train from Padalarang to reach central Bandung
🗺️ Bandung is full of culture, nature, and charm, with easy access to tea plantations, volcanoes, parks, and traditional arts
I loved spending the morning at Tahura, a huge forest conservation area with walking paths, caves and a waterfall.
🌴 Why Bandung Is Worth Visiting from Jakarta
Jakarta may be Indonesia’s capital, but if you’re after a more local, laid-back (yet still city) vibe — Bandung delivers. It’s lively, creative, and a lot easier to connect with everyday culture here than in the hustle of Jakarta.
In and around the city, you can explore:
🌳 Grand Forest Park (Tahura) – 590 hectares of protected forest and walking trails (I love this park!)
🎶 Saung Angklung Udjo – catch a traditional bamboo music performance
🌱 Tea plantations & farms – taste the local produce and take in the views
🌋 Tangkuban Perahu volcano – hike to the crater of an active volcano
The surrounding nature makes Bandung feel greener and more energetic. Locals tend to be curious about foreigners but also respectful of your space — it’s a lovely mix.
🧭 How to Get from Jakarta to Bandung (Quickly & Easily!)
Hands down, the best way to travel between Jakarta and Bandung is on the shiny new Whoosh high-speed train. What used to be a 3–4 hour drive is now just 30–50 minutes by train, depending on which station you’re heading to.
Sure, you can still drive, take a bus, or hop on a regular KAI train — but:
🚗 Driving/bus: often 3–4+ hours with traffic
🚆 Regular train: takes 2–3 hours, depending on route
🚄 Whoosh high-speed train: 30–50 minutes, with fixed departure times and no traffic stress
Unless you’re on a super tight budget, the high-speed train is absolutely worth it for the time and comfort you’ll save.
Padalarang Station (pictured) is a popular option to disembark near Badung, however you can also disembark at Tegallur.
📱 How to Book Whoosh Train Tickets: Comparison of Options (2025)
Train tickets can be purchased up to one month ahead, and I recommend purchasing as soon as you know when you need to go, because they do sell out consistently in advance. Plus, be sure to check which station you are going to, as Bandung has two: Padalarang and Tegallur.
You should book your train tickets via Tiket.com or the official Whoosh Website.
📝 Tip: Buy your ticket as early as possible — they can sell out days in advance. Double-check your destination (Bandung has two stations: Padalarang and Tegalluar).
🎟️ Whoosh Ticket Prices & Seating Classes
Ticket prices are fairly standard by class, with small variations for Premium Economy depending on the time and day. Business and First Class pricing tends to stay the same.
🚄 Typical One-Way Prices (Jakarta–Bandung)
Premium Economy sears offer a good amount of leg room. Since it’s a short ride, I think it’s plenty comfortable enough.
🚕 How to Get to Halim Station in Jakarta
Your route to Halim Station will depend on where you’re coming from — and since Jakarta traffic is legendary, plan accordingly.
🛤 By LRT: The easiest way (if you're on the line, like Dukuh Atas or Cawang) is via the Bekasi Line of the Jabodebek LRT. It’s fast, reliable, and traffic-free. Hop off at Halim LRT Station — it connects to the Whoosh terminal via an elevated walkway.
🚗 By rideshare: Not on the LRT line? Use GoJek or GrabCar, but budget extra time for traffic.
🛵 GrabBike/GoRide: Perfect if you’re traveling light and want to dodge gridlock. Bookable with the same rideshare apps.
☕ What to Expect at Halim Station
Halim is sleek and modern, with two levels — trains depart from the upper floor.
Once inside:
✅ If you have a QR code on your ticket from Tiket or Whoosh, just head up to security via the escalators.
☕ If you’re early and want to chill, then on the main level, you’ll find plenty of cafés and food: Loko Cafe, Canabeans, Subway, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Ramen’n’Sushi, and more.
🍩 After security, there are still drinks and snacks at kiosks like Auntie Anne’s, Kopi Kenangan, Cinnabon, and others.
🔌 Charging stations are available at the back of the boarding lounge.
📺 Digital boards display departure times. Boarding starts just 10–15 minutes before the train departs — no need to rush!
Lots of options for food and drinks on the main level of Halim Station, like Subway, Ramen&Sushi, KrispyKreme and Starbucks (to the left of KrispyKreme).
Cafes with indoor seating, like Loko Cafe and Canabeans, offer a nicer place to wait if you’re early for your train.
After passing security, you’ll be in a large waiting area. There are several kiosks to buy food and drink from.
Security was quick and efficient at Halim Station.
Charging stations are available towards the back of the waiting area after passing security.
🚆 Onboard Experience & Facilities
The Whoosh feels as sleek as it sounds — spotless, modern, and smooth in every class.
🚫 No cart service on board due to the short ride.
🍱 If you’re hungry, head to the dining car in carriage 5, where you’ll find simple bites like fried rice and sandwiches (IDR 20,000–100,000).
🚻 Toilets are clean and functional, located between the carriages.
📶 No Wi-Fi, and your mobile data will cut in and out as you speed through tunnels.
🌄 What You’ll See Out the Window
Don’t expect a scenic, slow roll — this train flies. That said, you’ll catch quick glimpses of:
🚧 Urban Jakarta fading into suburbs
🌾 Patches of countryside and rice fields
🏙️ A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stop at Karawang Station
🏁 Arrival at Padalarang, followed by Tegalluar if you’re continuing
🪟 Pro tip: Book a window seat to enjoy the ride. But if you’re at the very front of a carriage, your window might be partly blocked.
🌒 Also, the windows are heavily tinted (great for glare, not great for visibility), and several tunnels mean your view won’t be uninterrupted.
You won’t catch too much of a view since, for the most part, you’ll be zooming by at over 300km/hour.
🚙 How to Get from Padalarang Station to Central Bandung
Padalarang Station is outside the city, so you’ll need to connect into Bandung proper. Here’s how:
✅ Free Feeder Train (Best Budget Option)
A 20-minute local train connects Padalarang to the more central Bandung Station — and it's free for Whoosh passengers.
Just change platforms after arrival. Quick, easy, and your best choice if you’re traveling on a budget.
✅ GrabCar or GoJek (Easiest Door-to-Door Option)
You can also take a rideshare, which should cost IDR 80k–120k depending on demand and traffic conditions.
🚫 GrabBike / GoRide (Not Recommended)
Technically possible, but not ideal. Even on a scooter, the ride into the city can take up to an hour — and it's not fun unless you’ve packed extremely light (or are just feeling adventurous). Bookable with the same rideshare apps above.
⚠️ Scam Alert: Padalarang Station
When I arrived at Padalarang, a man came up to me claiming he worked for Grab and could help me find my ride. I could tell right away he was a scammer — but a new tourist might not.
He was pushy and rude, asking where I was going even after I told him (in both English and Indonesian) that I already had a car. Turns out, he had a Grab driver waiting nearby. When I called my ride, he showed up — and tried to charge double the price shown in the app, saying it was “because of traffic.”
Spoiler: the Grab app already includes traffic in the fare. I canceled and rebooked through the app, paid the quoted price (IDR 115,000), and had zero issues.
Exiting Padalarang Station can be a bit slow if it’s crowded. You will either change platforms if you’re taking the inner-city train transfer to central Bandung, or head to the main exist on the ground level if you’re getting ground transport.
People pretending to be with Grab will harass you out front and try to charge you double. Just stick with using the app, and if a driver from there asks for double, ask them to cancel (or cancel yourself) and call another one.
Happy Journey!
That’s everything I learned from taking the Whoosh — one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting new travel experiences. I found it efficient, comfortable, and well worth the ticket price. If you’re heading to Bandung from Jakarta (or vice versa), I definitely recommend taking the train over driving or the slower rail alternatives.
And this is just the beginning: there are already plans to extend the high-speed rail all the way across Java to Surabaya — which would be a total game-changer for getting around Indonesia’s most populated island.
Hopefully, all the tips I’ve shared here make your journey smoother. If anything’s changed or you have questions or experiences of your own, feel free to drop them in the comments!
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