Green Signal Before Argo Bromo Anggrek Collides with a Commuter Train in Bekasi; Transport Minister Awaits KNKT Findings

Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) Soerjanto Tjahjono said that the signal at Bekasi Timur was green before the Argo Bromo Anggrek train collided with a Commuter Line (KRL). Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi handed the investigation to KNKT. ‘We will hand that over to KNKT for the results and the investigation,’ Dudy told reporters at STIK/PTIK Polri, South Jakarta, on Friday (24 May 2024).

Dudy said the police had also become involved because there were fatalities. ‘The investigation has been carried out by the police as well. We have handed that over to the police for their investigations,’ he added. He noted that KNKT’s investigative process was still ongoing, with no final findings yet regarding the accident that claimed 16 lives.

‘Yes, the investigation by KNKT is ongoing. There are several aspects that we are still examining,’ he said.

Earlier, Soerjanto Tjahjono stated that Argo Bromo Anggrek, now renamed Anggrek, had a green signal when there was a commuter train stopped longer at Bekasi Timur Station because a taxi was struck by another KRL. He said this caused Anggrek to continue moving.

This was disclosed by Soerjanto during a working meeting of Commission V of the DPR with the Transport Minister, KNKT, and KAI regarding the collision between a train and a KRL at Bekasi Timur Station last month. He said Anggrek received a green signal when crossing point J12. Anggrek was moving eastward, from Bekasi Station toward Bekasi Timur Station.

Then, at 20:52:12 WIB, Argo Bromo Anggrek collided with KRL 5568A, which was stopped at Bekasi Timur Station. DPR Commission V Chairman Lasarus cut short Soerjanto’s explanation, asking whether the signal was indeed green as Anggrek passed the track between Bekasi and Bekasi Timur.

‘Wait, Sir. We are not trying to assign blame, Sir. So the conclusion KNKT had at the time of the collision between the train and the car, then the Argo Bromo Anggrek train moved and collided with the Commuter Line — was the signal green, Sir?’ Lasarus asked.

‘The signal was green, Sir,’ Soerjanto replied.

Lasarus said the track should have shown red because KRL 5568A was stopped at Bekasi Timur. The KRL bound for Cikarang halted due to a crowd after the incident of the KRL hitting a green taxi on the Jakarta-bound line.

‘We will explain further later,’ Soerjanto added.

‘So the conclusion there is that the signal was green and it moved?’ Lasarus probed.

‘Yes, it moved,’ Soerjanto replied.