Driver ignored signal in train crash

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A signal malfunction was the main cause of a train crash that killed five people and injured over 100 others in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta on June 30, the National Commission for Transportation Safety (KNKT) said on Monday.

Commission chairman Setio Rahardjo said that on the day of the accident, the train driver ignored the red signal, thinking that there was a signal problem, which is commonplace at the station.

He said that in June alone, the signal system at the crash location malfunctioned at least 25 times.

"The high frequency of signal malfunction has prompted train drivers to ignore the signals," Setio told The Jakarta Post.

He also said that one day before the accident, the signals were also red, but the driver just drove past and nothing happened.

Setio, however, blamed the driver for not using the handy talky to seek permission from the station master in the next station.

According to the existing regulations, the driver must stop if the signal is red.

However, if the signal is red for quite some time, the driver may leave the station at a speed of less than five kilometers per hour after securing permission from the station master at the next station.

Setio said the KNKT team had reported the result of its investigation to Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa.

In its report to the minister, he added, KNKT proposed 18 recommendations to improve the safety system. The commission also recorded 20 findings that might cause train crashes.

"The most important recommendation is that the Ministry of Transportation must periodically hold a safety audit on its train operations," he added.

Other recommendations include prohibiting passengers from riding inside the driver's compartment, improving communication systems, and placing assistant drivers in each train car.

Setio said his team found that there were 15 passengers inside the driver's cabin, a poor communication system, and high frequency of signaling problems.

The commission also recorded 118 total victims -- five fatalities, 40 seriously injured, and 73 with minor injuries.

Asked about the follow up of its report, Setio said it was in the hands of the transportation minister. "My job is already finished. It is up to the transportation minister to follow up our recommendations and findings," he added.

Meanwhile, transportation expert Ahmad Syafrudin said that train drivers allowed passengers to ride inside their cabin in order to get extra income.

"As a train user, I know that train drivers would not leave the station if they have less than 22 passengers in their cabins. Passengers staying in the driver's compartment are asked for an additional Rp 2,000 each for the drivers," he said, adding that station masters knew of the practice.

Ahmad, who is secretary-general of The Clean Air Partnership (MEB), advised PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) to stop corrupt practices in the company, including those perpetrated by train drivers and ticket controllers.

"The company loses billions of rupiah every month because it fails to punish ticket controllers, who collect money from passengers aboard trains. If the company saved the money, they could improve not only the communication and signaling system, but it could also buy new trains," he said.