KAI Accelerates the Operational Handover of Whoosh, 191 KAI Group Employees Support National Workforce Transformation to Global Standards
Whoosh High-Speed Train operations have now entered a stage where the majority of operations are managed by Indonesian human resources. A total of 574 personnel, including reinforcement from KAI Group, have completed 80 percent of the handover process and are independently carrying out most operational and maintenance functions. This achievement marks Indonesia’s readiness to manage high-speed transportation while continuing to strengthen the capacity of domestic operators. It is targeted that this year, Whoosh operations can be carried out 100 percent by local personnel.
The active role of KAI Group in ensuring that the transfer of competencies takes place in a structured and disciplined manner, while maintaining safety standards and operational consistency, provides assurance that services continue to operate in a stable and measurable manner. This momentum demonstrates that mastery of technology and modern governance continues to develop alongside improvements in the quality of national human resources and the absorption of local workforce.
Of the total 574 personnel, 144 are assigned to operational functions, including 66 train drivers and 31 operation control center personnel who manage train journeys in real time. On the rolling stock maintenance side, 80 personnel ensure the reliability of trainsets every day. Meanwhile, the remaining 350 personnel ensure the readiness of tracks, bridges, tunnels, electrical systems, signaling, and communications so that journeys remain safe, stable, and punctual.
During the transition phase, KAI Group assigned 191 seconded employees consisting of 154 employees from KAI Headquarters and 37 employees from KAI Commuter. This placement is designed to strengthen the competency transfer process while maintaining the continuity of safety standards and service quality during the transition of responsibilities.
The knowledge transfer process for Whoosh train drivers has also progressed faster than initially planned. While a similar process in China can take up to three years, the process for Whoosh operations was completed in approximately 1.5 years. This acceleration was made possible because the train drivers are KAI drivers who already have experience operating conventional trains, with a minimum of 3,000 driving hours or the equivalent of 100,000 kilometers of travel.
This stage represents an important milestone in the history of Indonesia’s railway industry while reaffirming Indonesia’s independence in operating Southeast Asia’s first high-speed train.
Vice President Corporate Communication KAI Anne Purba stated that the completion of this handover reflects the maturity of national human resources in managing high-technology services.
“A total of 574 Indonesian human resources now manage 80 percent of Whoosh operations. This demonstrates that the competence and discipline of our national workforce are capable of meeting the demands of high-speed train services with high safety standards. We are targeting full operation by local personnel this year while continuing to absorb local talent to strengthen our services,” said Anne.
Anne added that this achievement is a continuation of the transformation that has been taking place across KAI Group.
“This achievement strengthens KAI’s direction toward becoming a global-standard operator. With a solid organizational structure and increasingly mature technological capabilities, Whoosh operations will continue to be managed professionally, reliably, and sustainably,” concluded Anne.
The 80 percent operational independence achieved by Whoosh confirms that Indonesian human resources are capable of managing high-speed train technology in accordance with standards aligned with global operators. The competencies and experience developed have become a key strength in ensuring that services continue to grow professionally and remain internationally competitive, with a target of reaching 100 percent local personnel this year.
VP Corporate Communication KAI
