Level Crossings: An Old Problem, Prabowo: We Will Resolve It

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto highlighted the issue of level railway crossings that have remained unaddressed for decades.

The statement was made during a visit to the site of the collision between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and the KRL Commuter Line at Bekasi Timur Station on Tuesday (28/4/2026).

Prabowo noted that the number of level crossings remains high. Java Island has around 1,800 points that are not guarded or have not been diverted to flyovers.

“I think this dates back to the Dutch era, right? It’s been decades now, so let’s just resolve all of that,” said Prabowo.

The second scheme involves placing guarding personnel at the crossings.

“We will appoint the implementers later,” Prabowo stated.

The government estimates the required budget to be Rp 4 trillion. The main focus is directed towards improving transportation safety.

“Now is the time; it’s been decades without action, now we will do it,” Prabowo said.

The issue of level crossings has also drawn attention from the House of Representatives. Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Syaiful Huda, stated that the crossing points are widespread across various regions.

House of Representatives data records that the number of level crossings in Indonesia reaches 3,000 to 4,000 points. Most of them lack guarding.

“Currently, only about 1,200 level crossing points are guarded, either by PT KAI, local governments, or the Transportation Agency. Meanwhile, there are 2,600 points without guarding,” said Huda.

“The rest are illegal crossings,” he continued.

The KRL was held up on the track because there was another train ahead of it. That train had previously collided with a taxi that was stopped at the level crossing.

Initial information indicated that the vehicle broke down in the middle of the track.

Data up to 08:45 WIB recorded 14 people dead. Another 84 people were injured.

As a result of this incident, PT KAI cancelled 19 long-distance train journeys on the same day.