Lawmaker urges double-double track acceleration after train crash
According to him, accelerating the development of railway infrastructure in agglomeration areas is crucial as a long-term solution to address the burden on heavily congested railway lines, such as the Jakarta-Cikarang line.
“With double track, train frequency and movement can be more regular, reducing congestion, and minimizing the potential for conflict at level crossings,” Hananto said in a statement on Wednesday.
He addressed that the railway operator, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), and the government must take firm and effective steps to strengthen safety management, including tighter oversight of drivers and greater discipline among personnel.
Considering that this incident allegedly stemmed from an incident involving a commuter train (KRL) being hit by an online taxi on the train tracks, he stated that stricter enforcement of regulations for drivers crossing level crossings is essential.
At high operating speeds, the train’s braking distance can reach hundreds to thousands of meters, making it impossible to stop suddenly like a regular vehicle.
Therefore, PT KAI must evaluate this incident, particularly updates to the emergency signal system, communication speed between drivers, and stopping protocols on busy lines, he emphasized.
On Monday (April 27), a train collision between the Cikarang Commuter Line and the Argo Bromo Anggrek resulted in 16 deaths and 91 injuries at Bekasi Timur Station.
The Ministry of Transportation revealed that the initial chronology of the accident is suspected to have begun when the Bekasi-Cikarang KRL collided with a car at the JPL 85 level crossing, triggering the incident.
As a result, officers stopped another train, PLB 5568, heading to Cikarang at Bekasi Timur Station. However, the Argo Bromo Anggrek train, traveling from Jakarta to Surabaya, failed to stop completely and collided with the stopped train.
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Translator: Fath Putra M, Resinta Sulistiyandari