Awaiting Suspects in the Bekasi Timur Train Accident
This article is a column; its entire content and opinions represent the personal views of the author and do not reflect the editorial stance.
Today (6/5) marks the 11th day since the tragedy of the train accident in Bekasi Timur, which resulted in the deaths of 16 female passengers on KRL 5568.
However, there is still no clarity on who should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of those dozen passengers. Polda Metro Jaya only announced on 3 May 2026 that the train accident case has proceeded to investigation.
Both the KNKT and the police remain scant on initial information regarding the accident. To date, we have not received clear information on the time of the accident involving the Green SM taxi and KRL 5181 from Cikarang to Jakarta at the Ampera Bekasi Timur crossing.
KA’s press release number S.Pers/KAI/DO.1/33/IV/2026 dated 27 April 2026 also does not mention the time of the accident between KRL 5181 and the Green SM taxi.
In that release, KAI only stated the time of the accident between KA Argo Bromo Anggrek (KA 4B) on the Gambir-Pasarturi route and KRL 5568A destined for Cikarang at Bekasi Timur Station, namely 20:52 WIB.
Meanwhile, the police, who usually have detailed information on an incident, have not released when the accident between KRL 5181 and the Green SM taxi occurred.
This is because the signalling system in Jabodetabek has such safeguards that it can prevent train-on-train accidents.
Thus, it is highly implausible for there to be two trains (Argo Bromo Anggrek and KRL 5568A) in the same signal block at Bekasi Timur Station.
Therefore, if the train safety system is functioning, the accident between KRL 5181 and the Green SM taxi should not have caused another accident, but only delays in train journeys.
To determine the time of the collision between KRL 5181 and the Green SM taxi, investigators or investigators can delve into witnesses at the scene, the KRL 5181 driver, the taxi driver, and also information from CCTV or amateur video recordings.
From witness statements or video recordings, information on the time of the accident can be narrowed down.
The general public’s simple understanding that a train cannot stop suddenly can actually be answered by the signalling aspects at that time.
This log provides the answer as to whether the signalling system functioned as it should or if there was indeed a signalling error that caused two trains to be in the same signal block.