Transport Expert Urges Government to Improve Transportation for Safety

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transport expert Djoko Setjowarno has urged the government to undertake reforms to improve security and safety in transportation and to reduce accident rates. According to him, the separation of operational tracks must be a priority because KRL and intercity trains have fundamentally different characteristics. “The completion of the Double-Double Track project on the Jakarta-Cikarang route is not only important for increasing capacity but also for safety. In the medium term, this concept needs to be expanded along with the development of KRL services to more distant areas,” said Djoko when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday. He assessed that until the separation is fully realised, speed regulations and distances between trains must provide adequate safety margins. “This will result in reduced rail capacity and the need to revise train schedules,” said Djoko. He also emphasised that the elimination of level crossings in dense corridors must be accelerated because with high train frequencies, crossing closure times will be longer and potentially cause vehicle queues. Therefore, the construction of non-level crossings, such as underpasses and overpasses, needs to be prioritised based on risk. Furthermore, he stressed that spatial planning along railway lines must be strengthened, considering uncontrolled community activities, unofficial access, and weak enforcement of spatial planning, which can become serious sources of disruption to train operations. Finally, he called for a comprehensive evaluation of the safety system by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) together with the regulator. He also asked the government not to cut safety budgets for the comfort and security of the public in transportation. “Transportation safety is a long-term investment, not a cost burden,” concluded Djoko.