Deadly Accident At Pondok Jati Train Door: Ministry Of Transportation And East Jakarta City Government Must Evaluate Railway Crossing

The high volume of vehicles passing through the Pondok Jati train crossing (KA), Palmeriam Village, Matraman District, East Jakarta is due to the lack of access to crossing the railway line on Jalan Palmeriam, Matraman, East Jakarta.

In fact, recently there was an accident that caused 4 victims. One 15 year old child died, 3 others were injured. Including one Carry pick-up car hit by a passing train. The accident occurred due to a traffic jam at the train door of Pondok Jati Station.

Transportation Policy Observer, Azas Tigor Nainggolan said, if you look at the Scout area to the Enjo Market area in Jatinegara, there is only one level crossing, namely the Pondok Jati Station crossing.

"The train door in Pondok Jati is indeed high in volume there. Especially if it is during peak hours, morning, night like yesterday. Officers should have anticipated it at the crossing. The Ministry of Transportation should support it, it could also be assisted by BKO by the local government there (the Pondok Jati crossing). Because there have been many accidents at the crossing gate," said Azas Tigor when confirmed by VOI, Friday, February 21, 2025.

Azat Tigor stated that the accident that occurred at the Pondok Jati Station crossing did not happen once, but had frequent cases of accidents that claimed lives.

"The Ministry of Transportation must coordinate with the local regional government (East Jakarta City Government) if he lacks people, in order to facilitate traffic flow at every level crossing," he suggested.

Azas Tigor assessed that the person in charge when the vehicle passed should also be regulated by a level crossing officer because the position is close to the train station which is identical to the number of track officers.

"The level crossing or the crossing gate is also near the station, there should also be assistance from officers at the location to facilitate traffic flow," he said.

Meanwhile, responding to the case of a fatal accident that claimed the lives of a 15-year-old child with the initials E at the crossing gate of Pondok Jati Station, Azas Tigor asked for coordination between the Ministry of Transportation and the East Jakarta City Government.

"(The authority to cross trains) rests with the City Government and the Ministry of Transportation. It should be technically a train business, meaning the Ministry of Transportation. Second, it is in a location in an area, for example in Jakarta, meaning that the Regional Government (East Jakarta City Government) is also responsible too. the Ministry of Transportation with the Regional Government (East Jakarta City Government)," he said.

In addition, according to him, the two agencies must also maintain and secure crossings or level crossings. The two agencies must coordinate in building the main duties (functional duties).

"(Regarding the rise of accidents at train crossings) This must be reviewed, evaluated the crossing gate. All crossings must be evaluated, because there are so many crossings that often occur in accidents. The station and the crossing gate are assets of the Ministry of Transportation, not KAI," he concluded.

Previously, it was reported that another fact was revealed in the deadly accident at the railroad crossing (KA) Pondok Jati Station, Matraman, East Jakarta, which occurred on Wednesday night, February 19.

In addition to congestion which is the main cause of the accident so that many vehicles are trapped in the dangerous zone of train crossings, train bars and sirens are also starting to be closed because there are trains that will cross the Pondok Jati train track.

The panic situation ensued. Meanwhile, vehicles trapped in the dangerous zone of train crossings still lock or jam, the flow of vehicles cannot flow and is sterile.

Seeing this condition, officers at the Pondok Jati crossing gate raised the red flag before the accident occurred at the Pondok Jati crossing, Matraman.

The red flag is a bit stopped by the train because there are dangerous things at the crossing.

According to Septi, volunteers guarding the Pondok Jati train track, officers gave a sign that the train would stop because a number of vehicles were trapped in the middle of the crossing.

"(Masis) The train has been notified of the guard, given a red flag but not stopped. Hit (car) pick up immediately," said Septi, Thursday, February 20.

Before the accident occurred, the crossing gate had not been closed because no train had arrived. However, when a number of vehicles crossed the track, then the train was about to come and the crossing gate began to be closed. While at the location there are still many vehicles stuck in traffic jams.

"His condition is that the vehicle is in the middle (the train route in the crossing area). When he crossed, when there was a train. The closed Cross was already in the train," he said.

Septi said that if the railroad gate at the Pondok Jati Station crossing had been closed, then no vehicle would be given to pass.

"No one gave it away because it was closed, but because the condition of the vehicle was already in the middle when it crossed, when there was a train," he said.