Bamboo Barrier: Residents Take Turns Guarding Unsecured Railway Crossing Where Taxi Got Stuck
A Green SM taxi got stuck on the railway line at the level crossing on Jalan Ampera in Bekasi City, causing the Argo Bromo Anggrek train to collide with a KRL commuter train at Bekasi Timur Station. The crossing, which is only closed with a bamboo barrier, is guarded by local residents on a rotating basis.
Local resident Tasmin (80) stated that the crossing lacks an official PT KAI barrier, so residents have taken the initiative to self-fund the purchase of bamboo used as an improvised barrier.
“The bamboo is bought by the residents who are on guard. It has been in place for decades; if it breaks, it is replaced,” Tasmin told reporters near the Jalan Ampera railway crossing in Bekasi City on Tuesday (28/4/2026).
The bamboo is only installed as a barrier on one side, namely Jalan Ampera connected to Jalan Ir H Juanda. The opposite side has no barrier closing the railway crossing.
“On that side (with the bamboo barrier), it is installed because there is a place for it (a monitoring post),” explained the man who has been selling bakso for 50 years.
Tasmin did not explain why only one bamboo barrier is installed. However, he said that to prevent accidents, residents voluntarily take turns guarding it.
“The residents here (guard it), taking turns,” he added.
Local residents take turns guarding day and night. Some are assigned morning, afternoon, evening, or even until midnight shifts.
“At 1 a.m., there is one person on guard,” Tasmin said.
Passing drivers sometimes share their blessings with the guarding residents. Although the amount is small, it means a lot to the locals.
“Hopefully, someone gives something,” he added.
Frequent Accidents
Tasmin also recounted that accidents involving vehicles getting stuck on trains often occur at the Jalan Ampera crossing. However, this year, only one accident has happened, namely the one involving the Green SM taxi that triggered the collision between the Argo Bromo Anggrek and the KRL.
“In the past, it was frequent, sometimes once a month (accidents). (Accidents were frequent) from five years ago,” he said.
Tasmin noted that drivers sometimes recklessly cross the level crossing despite warnings to stop because a train is approaching.
“Sometimes people just barge through, many end up unlucky (because) their engine (car) stalls in the middle,” he added.
In addition to vehicle-train collisions, Tasmin mentioned that suicides are not uncommon near this crossing. “There are suicides too. There have been several attempts, but the kids have chased them away,” Tasmin said.
Taxi Stuck on KRL Triggers Train Collision
For information, the fatal accident began when a Green SM taxi stopped in the middle of the railway line not far from Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/4) night. The taxi was then hit by a KRL travelling from Cikarang towards Jakarta.
The KRL involved in the accident with the taxi then stopped in the middle of the tracks. Residents gathered to help evacuate the taxi.
On the other hand, a KRL heading to Cikarang stopped at Bekasi Timur Station due to the incident between the Jakarta-bound KRL and the Green SM taxi. It was this KRL stopped at Bekasi Timur Station that was then hit by the Argo Bromo Anggrek train travelling from Jakarta.
The total death toll from the accident is 15 people. In addition, dozens were injured.
“Yes, 15 died,” said Head of Health of Metro Jaya Police Kombes Martinus Ginting at Bhayangkara Tk.I Pusdokkes Polri Hospital (RS Polri), Jakarta, on Tuesday (28/4).