Parliament Proposes Certified Guards as Short-Term Solution for Securing Railway Crossings

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sudjatmiko, has proposed that all high-risk railway level crossings be guarded by certified personnel as a short-term solution to minimise accidents involving trains and vehicles crossing the tracks. According to Sudjatmiko in Jakarta on Thursday, mass enforcement of crossings and disruptions around railway tracks could face resistance from residents. At the very least, these level crossings must implement security standardisation, especially given the still-low discipline among Indonesian road users. “The short-term solution is full guarding of vulnerable crossings by certified guards; they must indeed have certification,” said Sudjatmiko during a discussion event on the Bekasi Timur train accident at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta. He stated that there are many illegal and still-active level crossings in Indonesia. Based on Law No. 23 of 2007 on Railways, according to him, unlicensed level crossings should be closed. On the other hand, he noted that railway usage is increasing over time. Therefore, safety must be prioritised. “Even abroad, there are many level crossings, but they are guarded and have good systems,” he said. Moreover, this phenomenon still exists in Jakarta. “Clearly, level crossings must be guarded in accordance with regulations and the road’s classification,” he said. For medium- and long-term solutions, Sudjatmiko urged the government to conduct a national railway safety audit, along with track improvements. Sometimes, he said, the roads at railway level crossings, whether asphalt or concrete, are damaged, making vehicles prone to stopping in the middle of the tracks. He also called for as many flyovers or underpasses as possible to be built along railway lines, especially on routes with high train traffic intensity. Therefore, he added, there is no other way to eliminate train and vehicle accidents except by making crossings non-level. “Especially in Jabodetabek, where trains pass every five minutes; that area should already use flyovers and underpasses. The closure of illegal level crossings must be emphasised,” he said.