Vandalism Incident on Daru–Parung Panjang Line, Six KRL Trains Delayed

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Daerah Operasi 1 Jakarta has affirmed that it will take legal action regarding the vandalism incident involving the theft of counting head axle counter cables on the Commuter Line track between Daru and Parung Panjang stations on Friday (8/5/2026). This incident caused disruptions to train services and endangered the railway safety system. Manager of Public Relations for KAI Daop 1 Jakarta, Franoto Wibowo, stated that an official report will be filed with the police. “That’s correct, we will report it to the authorities,” he said in Tangerang. KAI emphasised that the perpetrators of the theft could be charged under Article 197 of Law No. 23 of 2007, which regulates criminal penalties for those who damage, remove, or render railway infrastructure inoperable. The maximum penalty is three years’ imprisonment. The theft occurred early on Friday around 01:38 WIB, after PPKA officers at Daru Station reported anomalies in several track circuits. An inspection revealed that the axle counter cables were missing at Km 50+5/6, involving three theft points affecting a total of six device zones. The axle counter device is a vital component of the safety system as it detects the presence of train sets on upstream and downstream tracks. Damage to this device forced officers to manage train movements manually. “KAI Daop 1 immediately deployed a technical team for repairs and replacement of the missing devices,” Franoto explained. VP Corporate Secretary of KAI Commuter, Karina Amanda, stated that the technical disruption occurred on the Daru–Parung Panjang line due to the theft. The automatic signalling system became inoperable, hindering operational smoothness. By 09:00 WIB, six Commuter Line Rangkasbitung services experienced delays of 14–24 minutes. “Officers are currently at the site to carry out repairs and cable replacements,” Karina said. KAI stressed that acts of vandalism against railway devices not only cause material losses but also pose a significant risk to the safety of train travel and the public. KAI Commuter urged the entire community to help safeguard public railway facilities and report suspicious activities around the tracks.