Indonesia Increases Train Purchases from CRRC

The national railway operator of Indonesia, Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), recently announced a significant increase in train purchases from the Chinese manufacturer CRRC, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This decision was made due to delays in deliveries from the local manufacturer PT INKA.

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Earlier, at the beginning of 2024, KCI signed a contract with CRRC for the supply of three 12-car electric trains worth 830 billion rupiahs (about 50 million US dollars).

However, after reviewing the agreement with PT INKA, the volume of purchases from CRRC was increased.

As a result, KCI ordered an additional eight sets, costing 2.2 trillion rupiahs (about 135 million US dollars).

Thus, the total purchase amount for 11 trains from CRRC amounted to 3.03 trillion rupiahs (about 185 million US dollars).

The reason for these changes was PT INKA’s inability to fulfill previously concluded agreements.

Out of the 19 trains that were supposed to be overhauled by 2025, PT INKA managed to upgrade only two.

This forced KCI to revise its plans and turn to a foreign manufacturer to ensure the smooth operation of railway transport in the country.

KCI Vice President Anne Purba stated that all additionally ordered trains from CRRC would arrive in Indonesia in the first half of 2025.

This is extremely important, as during this period, 19 old KCI trains will be decommissioned due to the expiration of their service life.

In the event of delays in deliveries from CRRC, KCI may face a shortage of passenger rolling stock, which could lead to significant disruptions in the country’s transport system.

To finance this large purchase, KCI requested 2 trillion rupiahs from the Indonesian government. This underscores the importance of state participation and support in implementing such large-scale projects.

The increase in purchases from CRRC also indicates the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers in the international railway transport market.

KCI’s decision to increase purchases from CRRC was driven by the need to ensure the stable and reliable operation of railway transport in Indonesia.

Photo: ShanghaiEye

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