Jakarta, IO – Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) played a role in the naming designation, Katadata, Friday (22/9).
Whoosh is an onomatopoeia that sounds like something that moves very fast. This branding effort is expected to make the bullet train more popular at home and overseas.
He also explained that ‘Whoosh’ is an abbreviation of Indonesian words Waktu Hemat (Saving Time), Operasi Optimal (Optimal Operation) and Sistem Handal (Reliable System).
“In Japan it’s called Shinkansen, in Indonesia we call it Whoosh,” he said.
Budi also announced three prospective ‘Whoosh’ logo designs. Budi said that the three logos had been narrowed down from 10 logos that had been selected by the assessment team.
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According to Budi, the public can vote on the logo via www.kcic.co.id/jenamakeretapaicepat/. Nevertheless, Budi emphasized that President Jokowi still has the prerogative to choose the definitive logo.
The Jakarta-Bandung HSR is currently undergoing a trial run. President Jokowi and his entourage as well as a number of celebrities and influencers have ridden the train and shared their experiences on social media. It is expected to commence its commercial operation in October. (un)