Lawmaker Pushes Faster Double-Double Track Development for Safer Railways

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Following the East Bekasi accident, calls for railway safety improvements have intensified, with lawmakers stressing the need for comprehensive reform.

A lawmaker of Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Rofik Hananto, said accelerating the construction of the double-double track is crucial to easing congestion, particularly on busy routes such as Jakarta–Cikarang. He argued that limited track capacity has heightened accident risks.

“With double tracks, trains can run more frequently and regularly, reducing congestion and minimizing potential conflicts at level crossings. This project must be prioritized,” Rofik said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that additional tracks would improve operations and reduce conflicts at crossings, creating a more organized system that regulates train frequency and minimizes collision risks.

Beyond physical infrastructure, Rofik urged state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) and the government to strengthen safety governance, including stricter enforcement for road users crossing tracks. The incident is believed to have started when a vehicle trespassed at a level crossing, underscoring the importance of public discipline.

He called for ticketing, tighter supervision, and continuous education to enforce safety rules. Standard procedures must be upheld if guards or station personnel are found negligent.

Rofik noted that trains, due to their high operating speeds, require hundreds to thousands of meters to stop, making sudden halts impossible.

He therefore urged PT KAI to conduct a serious evaluation of the incident, particularly regarding updates to emergency signal systems, faster communication between drivers, and stopping protocols on busy lines.

“This is so that a similar tragedy does not happen again,” he stressed.

He also expressed condolences to the victims and wished a swift recovery for those injured.

The collision between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and a Commuter Line (KRL) occurred at East Bekasi Station on the evening of Monday, April 27, 2026.

The Ministry of Transportation said the accident allegedly began when the Bekasi–Cikarang KRL struck an EV taxi at the JPL 85 level crossing. The KRL was evacuated and designated an extraordinary journey (PLB) with the code 5181, as it was out of service and operating outside its regular schedule.

Officials then stopped another train, PLB 5568, bound for Cikarang, at East Bekasi Station. However, the Argo Bromo Anggrek train traveling from Jakarta to Surabaya failed to stop completely and collided with the halted train.

The crash left 16 women dead and dozens injured, all of them passengers in the women-only carriages. ***