NTSC Conducts Comprehensive Investigation into Fatal Train Accident in East Bekasi
The National Committee for Transportation Safety (NTSC) is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the fatal accident between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and a KRL commuter train in East Bekasi, including signalling problems.
NTSC spokesperson Arif Iskandar stated that the signalling issue is one of the main materials being investigated.
“Currently, the investigation team is still conducting fieldwork. Signalling is also one of the aspects being explored in depth,” he told reporters on Thursday (30/4).
However, Arif further mentioned that the NTSC is not only investigating suspected signalling problems. The NTSC is also conducting a comprehensive investigation.
“We can state that in this case, the NTSC’s investigation is holistic. So it’s not just focused on signalling, but also on facilities, operations, human resources, procedures, and other infrastructure. All aspects are being explored in depth, because the accident did not occur due to one factor. But multiple factors contributed,” said Arif.
Nevertheless, Arif did not reveal further details regarding the initial investigation results. He said the investigation results will be presented in full as material for evaluation recommendations.
“The NTSC investigation results will be published on the website and channels owned. For safety recommendations later, they will be given to the relevant parties to serve as material for future improvements,” he added.
It is known that a video went viral on social media featuring the testimony of the assistant driver of the Argo Bromo Anggrek train after the collision at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/4) night. He claimed there was something odd with the signal lights when the train passed through Kota Bekasi Station.
“Miscommunication, it seems the signal had an error,” said the man identified as the assistant driver of the Argo Bromo Anggrek train, quoted from a video upload by the X account @txttransportasi.
In the same video, it was mentioned that the control centre had not been fully informed when the emergency situation occurred. Even, the signal change to red was said to have happened at an inappropriate time.
“I just informed the control centre (PK), but I hadn’t fully copied the information, and the signal turned red already,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be able to turn red. Because from Bekasi it was green, the connection should be, if green here maximum yellow, can’t be red. The speed was quite high, 110 km/h,” continued the assistant driver of the Argo Bromo train.