Signal failure and communication lapses linked to deadly Bekasi train crash
A report attributes the April 27 collision of a commuter and long-distance train near Jakarta to signalling faults and poor communication, which left 16 dead and 107 injured.
According to a committee report, the April 27 evening crash in Bekasi, just outside Jakarta, resulted from a combination of signalling and communication problems. The long-distance train proceeded on a green signal while the next signal ahead was red, because the driver did not receive a preceding yellow warning. Prior to the collision, the commuter train had been involved in an accident with an electric taxi, causing it to stop at a crossing.
It then took three minutes and 20 seconds for the operation control centre to obtain a clear report from the commuter train driver, hampering timely response. The report also noted that the long-distance train driver had not been trained for emergency braking situations. Additional factors included poor signal visibility due to light pollution and damaged windshields.
Why it matters
The findings highlight critical safety gaps in Indonesia's rail system that contributed to a major fatal accident.
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