MTI Deems Mandatory SOP Necessary if Vehicle Breaks Down at Railway Crossing

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The fatal accident involving KA Argo Bromo Anggrek and KRL Commuter Line at the level crossing on Jalan Ampera (JPL 78), East Bekasi, is seen as a loud alarm for national transportation safety. In response to the incident, the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) highlights the importance of specific mitigation measures for vehicles breaking down at railway crossings.

MTI’s Railway Forum Chairman, Deddy Herlambang, stated that the existence of level crossings often becomes a weak point in security that triggers Railway Accidents (KKA). According to him, there must be clear guidelines understood by the entire community when facing emergency situations on the tracks, such as when a vehicle breaks down at a level railway crossing.

“The initial trigger for the Railway Accident (KKA) was the level crossing on Jalan Ampera JPL 78 Bekasi, so mitigation is needed in the form of a standard operating procedure (SOP) that must be implemented by road users if a motor vehicle breaks down on the railway tracks,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/6/2026).

Deddy added that the SOP for vehicles breaking down or damaged on level crossing tracks could be proposed by the Directorate of Land Transportation (Hubdat) of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub). On Monday night (27/4/2026), at exactly 20.55 at Bekasi Timur Station (BKST), a Railway Accident (KKA) occurred when KA 4 Argo Bromo Anggrek on the Gambir-Surabaya Pasar Turi route collided with the rear of KRL TM 5568A (PLB 5568a) which was stopped at platform 2 of BKST Station. As a result of this incident, rail traffic on the Jakarta to Cikarang line can be said to have come to a complete halt.

The tragedy stemmed from 35 minutes earlier at the level crossing JPL 85 Ampera. An electric taxi broke down in the middle of the tracks and was hit by KRL CRRC Jakarta-Cikarang (PLB 5181), causing the KRL PLB 5568a behind it to be held up and unable to continue its journey due to the KRL PLB 5181 being hit by the electric taxi.