KNKT Reveals Argo Bromo Anggrek Driver Was Directed to Brake Incrementally Before Collision With KRL
The head of the National Committee for Transportation Safety (KNKT), Soerjanto Tjahjono, revealed that there was an attempt by the train driver to slow the Argo Bromo Anggrek before it struck a KRL at Bekasi Tomtu Station. However, the driver’s braking was asked to be incremental so as not to brake to maximum. The facts were disclosed by Soerjanto during a working session with Commission V of the DPR at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (21 May 2026). Soerjanto said that in fact the driver had already tried to brake the Argo Bromo Anggrek 1.3 km from the KRL location.
“Actually, sir, what I want to tell you is that the driver had already started braking 1.3 km before the collision site, Sir. He knew this because it was informed by PK Timur, the line controller between Manggarai and Cikampek. Why this will be clarified later in communication, Sir,” Soerjanto said.
Chair of Commission V DPR Lasarus then delved into KNKT’s findings. Lasarus questioned how many kilometres a long-distance train would need to stop.
“Wait a moment, this 1.3 km already braking?” Lasarus asked.
“Yes,” Soerjanto replied.
“Is this train really safe, then, how many kilometres does braking need before it stops?” Lasarus asked again.
Soerjanto explained that the train can maximally stop over a distance of 900 metres to 1 kilometre. Lasarus then questioned why the Argo Bromo Anggrek still hit the KRL from 1.3 kilometres.
“Returning to the graph, if it had braked maximally, it would be roughly between 900 and 1,000 metres,” Soerjanto said.
“1,000 metres, that means 1.3 km earlier, Sir?” Lasarus asked.
Soerjanto then explained that the driver failed to stop the Argo Bromo Anggrek because there was an instruction from the control centre to brake gradually. He said the driver at that time was only instructed to brake slowly while sounding the horn.
“But because he understood from communications with the control centre that there was a temper at JBL85, ‘You brake little by little and honk a lot’ meaning lots of horn, so the driver did not perform maximum braking, because the information received from PK Timur was to brake gradually and to honk,” Soerjanto explained.
Lasarus then expressed surprise at the control instructions received by the Argo Bromo Anggrek driver. He was puzzled because the Argo Bromo Anggrek still had 300 metres if braking had been maximum.
“Okay, this is interesting, so 1.3 km already braking?” Lasarus asked.
“Yes,” Soerjanto replied.
“But you were told to brake gradually?” Lasarus asked again.
“Yes,” Soerjanto replied.
“Indeed, if he braked properly, 900 m to 1 km would have sufficed? There would still be 300 metres of space,” Lasarus pressed.
“Yes,” Soerjanto replied.
Lasarus expressed astonishment at KNKT’s findings regarding the Argo Bromo Anggrek collision with the KRL. He criticised the SOP held by the operator KAI.
“Shouldn’t it be, Sir, perhaps, this is for everyone here. We must read the details of his explanation; let us simply conclude: can you answer my question, in your conclusion is the system of operation not functioning? According to your conclusion, is the system in place for the controller functioning?” Lasarus said.
“Let us…” Soerjanto replied.
“Sir, you are still uncertain,” Lasarus pressed.
“No, I don’t want to understand what you explained at length; I just want you to summarise: does the system work? If the system works, ‘Hey, that train will crash there… brake slowly, yes’, how does this fit with the SOP,” Lasarus continued.