Maintenance is key

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Train traffic on the Bogor-Jakarta railway around the Kebon Pedes crossing in Bogor city, West Java, got back to normal on Sunday (11/3/2019), although only on one line. After an accident in which a train derailed on Sunday (10/3/2019), officers of state railway company PT KA and PT KCI repaired the electricity transmission cables on the railway track that were damaged in the accident..

Repair work on the damaged railway tracks and facilities in Kebon Pedes, Bogor City, West Java, concluded a little later than planned on Monday (March 11, 2019) afternoon.

The infrastructure had been damaged on Sunday following an accident involving Commuter Line train KA1722 serving the Jatinegara-Bogor route. Three cars of the train derailed and rolled over. Nineteen people were injured, including the train engineer (Kompas, March 11, 2019).

We should be grateful that the accident caused no fatalities. It also did not trigger extraordinary congestion on the Bogor-Jakarta route or new problems for workers and students commuting to the capital that morning, as had been feared. State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) was quite responsive in mobilizing around 200 workers for the repair effort and continuing the work even amid heavy rain around the accident site.

The damaged railway facilities included electricity cables over the tracks, the tracks themselves, electric wiring and electricity poles. The hard work from KAI officials, including the Ministry of Transportation, finally ensured the Bogor-Jakarta lane was functioning again, despite running slightly past the deadline set for finishing the job.

Kompas records show that similar railway accidents have occurred repeatedly over the past four years. On Aug. 19, 2015, a Commuter Line train serving the Bekasi-Jakarta Kota route derailed near Manggarai Station. The accident was the cause of two dislodged axles of the rear car; the train hit a signal pole. Since then, there have been Commuter Line and other train accidents in the country every year. Before the disaster in Kebon Pedes, a Commuter Line accident occurred on Oct. 30, 2017 near Jatinegara Station. There was no information about the cause of that accident.

The National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) is still investigating the cause of the accident in Kebon Pedes. NTSC reports published so far suggest that more than a few train derailment cases are related to poor maintenance of railroad infrastructure. The NTSC investigation of the Manggarai Station incident in May 2016 indicated that the rail tracks were worn down to a greater extent than allowed.

In other railway accident investigations, NTSC found tracks that were not connected properly, train wheels that did not comply with prevailing regulations and railway lines hit by landslides without proper information provided.

KAI, as the parent company of PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), has the motto “You are Our Priority”. KCI meanwhile, has the tagline “Best Choice for Urban Transport”. Of course, with this motto the company should always prioritize the safety of passengers and staff. Safety can only be assured if, from the get-go, the maintenance of railroads and related infrastructure is done properly. If passenger safety is the priority, trains are the best choice of transportation.