Transport Minister calls Bekasi Timur train incident a vital lesson

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has stated that the train collision incident at Bekasi Timur Station in West Java serves as an important lesson for improving railway transportation safety in Indonesia. He emphasised that the event involving a Commuter Line train and a long-distance train must become a momentum for comprehensive evaluation by all stakeholders. “This is an important lesson for PT Kereta Api Indonesia and the government to continue improving the best services to the public,” Dudy said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. According to him, transportation services should not only focus on comfort but must also guarantee the security and safety of passengers as the top priority. The government, along with operators, will conduct a thorough evaluation to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future. Dudy conveyed deep condolences for the incident that caused fatalities and injuries. “We extend our deepest condolences to the deceased victims and hope the injured recover soon,” he said. Previously, the Transport Minister, along with the President Director of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Bobby Rasyidin, directly inspected the accident site at Bekasi Timur Station since Monday (27/4) evening to oversee the victim evacuation process. On that occasion, the President expressed condolences to the victims and families and emphasised that the government would conduct a thorough investigation. “I extend condolences on behalf of myself and the government. We will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of this incident,” the President said. PT KAI recorded that as of 13:26 WIB, the number of fatalities was 15 people, while 88 others were injured. All deceased victims have been evacuated to RS Polri Kramat Jati for identification, while the injured are being treated at several hospitals.