A viral video showed residents blocking an unguarded railway crossing\nin Medang Deras District, Batubara Regency, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The blockade was carried out after a pedestrian was killed after\nbeing struck by the Datuk Belambangan train on the Lalang\u2013Tebing Tinggi\nroute.<\/p>\n
In the circulating video, residents burned used tyres directly on the\nrailway tracks on Monday (17\/8). Residents also placed wooden tables and\nchairs in the middle of the tracks. The action prevented the Datuk\nBelambangan train from continuing its journey to Lalang.<\/p>\n
Eventually, the Datuk Belambangan train was forced to return to\nTebing Tinggi.<\/p>\n
The head of Lalang village delivered a speech to representatives of\nPT KAI urging them to improve safety at the crossing, as accidents at\nthe unguarded crossing had occurred repeatedly. After negotiations, the\nresidents ended the blockade.<\/p>\n
PT KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra Public Relations Manager\nAnwar Yuli Prastyo confirmed that train operations on the Bandar\nTinggi\u2013Kuala Tanjung line returned to normal after the track blockade by\nresidents at Kilometre 15+800 on the Lalang\u2013Tanjung Gading section was\nlifted on Monday (17\/8) at 20.57 WIB.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter an agreement was reached between KAI Regional Division I North\nSumatra, the Medang Deras community, and the Medan Class I Railway\nEngineering Centre (BTP), the blockade was opened and the line could be\nused by trains again from 20.57 WIB,\u201d Anwar said on Tuesday (18\/8).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe appreciate all parties who communicated and sought a joint\nsolution so that train operations could return to normal,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Anwar explained that during the negotiation process, the community\nagreed to a number of safety measures at the level crossings. The Medan\nClass I BTP, as a technical implementation unit under the Directorate\nGeneral of Railways responsible for managing and supervising railway\ninfrastructure and safety, approved the construction of safety barriers\nat five level crossings on the Bandar Tinggi\u2013Kuala Tanjung line.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, the community also proposed reducing train speeds to 50\nkilometres per hour at the location as part of efforts to improve\nsafety. This agreement is expected to serve as a joint step to improve\nsafety at level crossings,\u201d Anwar said.<\/p>\n
Previously, residents blockaded the railway line at Kilometre 15+800\nafter an incident involving the Datuk Belambangan train on the\nLalang\u2013Tebing Tinggi route and a pedestrian at 10.04 WIB on Monday\n(17\/8).<\/p>\n
The incident resulted in the pedestrian\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
As a result of the blockade, KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra\nmade a number of operational adjustments, including cancelling five\ncontainer freight train services and adjusting the operating pattern of\nthe Datuk Belambangan train, which originally served journeys to Lalang\nStation to only go as far as Tanjung Gading Station.<\/p>\n
\u201cKAI Regional Division I North Sumatra also urges the public not to\nblockade railway lines or place objects or materials on the tracks.\nBesides endangering train safety, such actions can disrupt operations\nand endanger communities near the line,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A similar incident previously occurred on 28 February 2025.<\/p>\n
KAI Regional Division I North Sumatra reminded that railway lines are\nprotected by law. Under Law Number 23 of 2007 on Railways, Article 181\nParagraph (1), the public is prohibited from being in the railway\nright-of-way, dragging, moving, placing, or shifting objects on the\ntracks, and using the tracks for purposes other than rail transport.<\/p>\n
\u201cViolations of these provisions can be subject to a maximum prison\nsentence of three months or a maximum fine of Rp15 million. We invite\nthe entire community and stakeholders to jointly maintain railway\nsafety,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-block-railway-tracks-in-batubara-after-pedestrian-struck-by-train-1787057622", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }