The Moments Of The 1987 Bintaro Tragedy: The Deadliest Train Collision In Indonesia

The Bintaro I tragedy (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - One of the train travel regulator (PPKA) officers at Sudimara Station ran while blowing his trumpet to prevent the 225 train (KA) heading Rangkasbitung-Jakarta Kota from taking off. But the effort was in vain, the train quickly sped off.

From his point of view, Slamet, the KA 225 driver saw a train coming from the opposite direction which was none other than KA 220 heading for Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung. Some of the passengers who were surprised without thinking immediately jumped from the train carriages.

The KA 220 engineer tried to brake but it was too late. Bullfighting could not be avoided and the two series of trains collided with each other. It was so intense, the sound of the collision boomed several dozen meters.

The accident that claimed 159 lives and 300 injured victims is known as the Bintaro I Tragedy. The incident today, 19 October 33 years ago or in 1987. The seconds of the disaster which was recorded as the worst train accident in Indonesia after independence are summarized in The Bintaro Train Tragedy (2019) published by Tempo.

The cause

If traced, the incident can be traced from around half past seven in the morning. Initially, the 220 Train (KA) heading for Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung was a little late when it was about to go to Sudimara Station. The train still needs a few more minutes to drop off passengers at Kebayoran Station.

At 6.46, PPKA Kebayoran Station reported that KA 220 departed from Kebayoran Station to Sudimara Station. This news surprised PPKA at Sudimara Station, because all three train lines at the station were filled, one of which was KA 225.

"In such a situation at Sudimara station it is impossible to cross the train 220 which will come from Kebayoran station as it usually applies according to schedule," wrote the report of the November 11-20 1987 edition of the Panji Masyarakat magazine.

Quoting Historia , previously PPKA Sudimara asked for train crossing to be carried out at Kebayoran Station. PPKA Sudimara said the plan had been agreed upon by PPKA Kebayoran before KA 220 departed from Kebayoran.

However, what is not known is that there has been a change in PPKA at Kebayoran Station, while at Sudimara Station it remains. The new Kebayoran PPKA was not aware of the plan. That is the culprit.

Slamet Suradio, Jamhari, Umriyadi, and the conductor of KA 225 Adung Syafei were found guilty of the incident. In April 1988, the four of them began to be tried. Slamet was sentenced to five years in prison, Adung Syafei was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, Umriyadi and Jamhari were each sentenced to 10 months in prison.

The accident provided a lesson for the Indonesian government at that time. PJKA and the Minister of Transportation at that time were known to have brought changes in technology, quality, and regulations for Indonesian railways. Some of these include the computerization of train travel, the creation of double rails, and the prohibition of climbing onto the roof of carriages and locomotives for passengers.

It should be noted that the large number of victims was also caused by passengers who exceeded the train's capacity. Many passengers sit at the top and front of the train. In addition to endangering themselves, it also disturbs the driver who runs and sees train signaling.