Indonesia to make thorough evaluation on train system: minister

Indonesia will make a thorough evaluation on train system following a horrible train accident in Pemalang regency of Central Java province on Saturday, a minister said on Monday.

Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi told a parliamentary hearing that there are many factors that probably caused the accident that killed 35 people. "That's why we ordered the National Commission on Transportation Safety (KNKT) to investigate the accident. Are there other factors that caused the accident aside of machinist's fault?" said Numberi. Train Argo Bromo Anggrek collided with train Bisnis Senja Jaya at about 03:00 local time Saturday (2000 GMT on Friday)in Petarukan town of Pemalang regency

Numberi said that a preliminary investigation showed that one of the machinist was guilty of causing the train accident.

"According to the investigation, the machinist's assistant said that he had warned his boss that the light was already red, but the machinist said he saw green light," Numberi told the parliament.

He added that based on records made by a box recorder and a sattelite, the train did not reduce its speed prior the accident. However, Numberi said that might be other factors that made the machinist not alerted. "Maybe time factor was one of the cause as machinist works for 6-8 hours a day. Maybe we have to shorten it," he said.

Source: Xinhua