On the Signal Operator's Request for 'Slight' Braking for Argo Bromo Anggrek, KNKT Responds
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The National Transport Safety Committee (KNKT) suspects that the railway journey-control operator did not know the actual conditions on the ground when asking the Argo Bromo Anggrek train driver to perform only ‘slight braking’ before the accident at Bekasi Timur Station.
According to KNKT Chair Soerjanto Tjahjono, communications received by the control centre at Pusdal were only voice reports of an incident described as temperan ahead on the line. ‘From a distance of 1,300 metres after receiving news that there is temperan ahead, the driver had already begun braking. But because the situation at Pusdal is that they do not know the real conditions on the ground, communication is via voice,’ Soerjanto said when asked at the DPR building, Thursday (21/5/2026).
‘Thus the on-ground conditions are not known, only report that there is temperan ahead; braking lightly and then repeatedly giving the ’semboyan 35’ signal or horn. That is all that was communicated, so the driver was responding to what Pusdal told him from the Manggarai operations controller,’ he added.
When asked why the operator did not immediately order the train to stop completely, Soerjanto said the operator might have assumed the front was not yet too dangerous. ‘Yes, because at Pusdal they do not know what the front conditions are like; perhaps they engaged in positive thinking that the main aim is to reduce speed and be cautious, and to issue the semboyan 35 or horn,’ he said.
‘There are several aspects that we are still investigating, so it is too early to conclude what caused this. We need more time to evaluate; there are several data items we still require and are still processing to complete those data.’
As information, the accident between the KRL Commuter Line, number KA 5568A, and KA Argo Bromo Anggrek occurred at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/4/2026) evening. The incident killed 15 people and left dozens injured.
The Ministry of Transportation previously explained that the accident began when the Bekasi-Cikarang-bound KRL train set, KA5181B, was struck by a taxi at level crossing JPL 85.
As a result, train services were disrupted and one KRL set halted at Bekasi Timur Station before being subsequently struck by KA Argo Bromo Anggrek.
Afterward, the KRL briefly moved about 1.69 metres before stopping again when the driver saw a crowd on the upstream track. At 20:52:12 WIB, KA Argo Bromo Anggrek ultimately struck the KRL set.
KNKT records a time gap of around 3 minutes 43 seconds between the taxi-struck incident and the collision between KA Argo Bromo Anggrek and the KRL.
KOMPAS.com is committed to presenting clear, trustworthy, and balanced facts. Support the continuation of clear journalism and enjoy ad-free reading through Membership. Join KOMPAS.com Plus today.