Padang-The Railway Engineering Center (BTP) Class II Padang will operate 27 Direct Crossing Path (JPL) posts at several points in West Sumatra on April 1, 2023. One of BTP Padang's safety programs aims to reduce the number of accidents at railway level crossings in Padang Pariaman Regency, Pariaman City and Padang City.

The Head of BTP Padang, Supandi, stated during the Kick Off Meeting for the Operation of 27 JPL Post Points in the West Sumatra Region on Thursday night (30/3) that the accident rate at railway level crossings in West Sumatra is still very high. As a result, BTP Padang has initiated a safety program to build 27 Direct Crossing Path (JPL) posts at various points in West Sumatra, with the goal of reducing the number of accidents.

"On average, there have been around 22 accidents at level crossings per year. Based on existing data, from 2017 until February 2023, there have been 130 accidents. We are extremely concerned about this situation, especially considering that the active railway line in West Sumatra is only around 107 km long with just three train services," Supandi explained.

Supandi revealed that one of the reasons for the high number of accidents is the existence of illegal or unregistered level crossings. In total, there are 388 level crossings, with 42 registered crossings being guarded, 58 registered crossings being unguarded, and 288 crossings being illegal.

BTP Padang has also conducted the recruitment and certification process of 81 Crossing Guards (PJL) in line with the construction of the JPL Post. The Transportation Agency (Dishub) of each district and city recommended the candidates, with priority given to those who have voluntarily guarded level crossings.

In this way, 81 Crossing Guards (PJL) have been recruited and certified through the recommendation of the Transportation Agency (Dishub) of each district and city, prioritizing those who have voluntarily guarded level crossings.

These PJL members will be assigned to 27 JPL posts, with 30 PJL at 10 JPL posts in Padang City, 33 PJL at 11 JPL posts in Padang Pariaman Regency, and 18 PJL assigned to 6 JPL posts in Pariaman City, based on their expertise for a certain period of time.

According to Supandi, the operation of JPL by BTP Padang is an enhancement of the role and function of BTP Padang as a railway regulator in accordance with the Ministerial Regulation No. 36/2022 regarding the Organization of Work Procedures of the new Technical Center.

 BTP Padang recognizes the challenges of the PJL members in carrying out their duties. They are required to have a comprehensive understanding of various aspects related to railway crossings. In response to this, BTP Padang provided education and training covering legal aspects of railway crossings, duties and authorities of PJL, train mottos and road traffic signs, operation of the crossing door, emergency management, and maintaining health and safety at work.

“I advise that PJL members will carry out their duties with full responsibility, discipline, and prioritize security, safety, and health factors to give their best and work wholeheartedly," he expected.

During the same occasion, Sofan Hidayah, the Vice President of West Sumatra Regional Division II of PT KAI (Persero), expressed his appreciation to all stakeholders who have made efforts within their authority to reduce the number of accidents at level crossings. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety and not taking risks by crossing the level crossing when it is unsafe to do so. "If we all prioritize the safety of human life, we can reduce the number of accidents," he said.

In his remarks, Head of the West Sumatra Provincial Transportation Office Dedy Diantolany said there was still a lot of work for all authority guides to do to handle and find the right solution to reduce the number of accidents at this level crossing.

 "It is sad to see the accidents that have occurred so far, especially to the point of taking lives. By closing illegal crossings carried out by BTP Padang, this is one of the efforts to reduce the number of accidents at level crossings," he concluded.

 For information, the safety program at level crossings carried out by BTP Padang both in 2021 and 2022 is a pilot program for handling level crossings comprehensively. Apart from building 27 JPL posts, an Early Warning System (EWS) was also built at 30 other crossing points, a 6.7 km frontage road, 8.1 km of security rail stakes, 7.3 km of ornament fences, two Pedestrian Bridges (JPO) or Motorcycle Bridges (JPM) and closing 261 dangerous level crossings.