Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) revealed that the engineer of the Argo Bromo Anggrek intercity train had initiated braking procedures approximately 1.3 kilometers before rear-ending a commuter train (KRL) at East Bekasi Station on 27 April 2026.

"We noted that from a distance of 1,300 meters, after receiving news that there was an impact ahead, the engineer had already applied the brakes," KNKT Chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono said following a hearing with Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday (21/5/2026), as cited by antaranews.com.

He said that the Manggarai operation control center (Pusdal) warned the engineer via voice communication about an initial collision involving a taxi and a KRL on the tracks ahead. 

However, because dispatchers lacked real-time visual data, they only instructed the engineer to reduce speed slightly and repeatedly sound the train horn (Semboyan 35) as a precaution. While the engineer followed these instructions, the braking distance was insufficient to prevent the catastrophic collision, which ultimately resulted in 124 casualties, including 16 fatalities. KNKT expects to conclude its full technical investigation within two to three months.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)