Highlighting Weak Oversight of Railway Level Crossings

Weak oversight of railway level crossings came under scrutiny by Lasarus, the chairman of DPR Commission V. He voiced the concern at a working meeting with the Minister of Transportation, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), and the National Transport Safety Committee (KNKT), which discussed a train accident at Bekasi Timur Station.

He cited statements from one observer who noted that 80 percent of train accidents in Indonesia occur at level crossings that have no guards or crossing gates. Lasarus then referred to the Bekasi Timur Station accident, which began with the breakdown of an electric taxi at an illegal level crossing. According to him, the incident demonstrates weak control and supervision of illegal level crossings in several areas.

‘We have information that the accident location was an unofficial level crossing. There were no guards or gates, and even the arrangement was carried out informally by the community. This shows that supervision of illicit crossings remains weak,’ Lasarus said.

Indeed, 80 percent of train accidents in Indonesia occur at level crossings that lack guards or gates. ‘There are thousands of level crossing points, but data on crossing gates is not optimal because each ministry/institution still has to harmonise its powers,’ Lasarus said.

He noted that there are 4,242 level crossings according to data from the Ministry of Public Works (PU). ‘That figure affects how many gates are guarded versus unguarded,’ he added.

Additionally, he referred to Law No. 23 of 2007 on Railways, which reinforces regulations concerning level crossings. One of its provisions, Article 124, states that every road user has a primary obligation to give priority to railway travel.