On Sunday, 14th January 2024, at 07:57 local time, another train accident occurred, causing the Pandalungan train on the Jakarta Gambir – Surabaya – Jember route to derail. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has confirmed that there were no casualties resulting from this incident.
Efforts to evacuate the Pandalungan train were successfully carried out in the early morning of 15th January 2024, at 3:11 am local time, with assistance from the Blambangan Express train on the Ketapang – Semarang Tawang route. The derailment of the locomotive driver of the Pandalungan train necessitated a reduction in the maximum speed of all trains passing through Tanggulangin Sidoarjo Station to 20 km/hour.
“The affected passengers have been transferred to buses provided at Bangil and Sidoarjo Stations,” stated KAI Vice President of Public Relations, Joni Martinus.
KAI promptly initiated the evacuation of all passengers impacted by the derailment of the Pandalungan train series, arranging transportation through buses. Passengers were bused from Bangil Station to Surabaya Station and onward to Jember.
Consequently, several other train services encountered delays in both departure and arrival. The following provides information on the trains affected by the Pandalungan train accident:
- Ranggajati Railway (115) Jember-Surabaya Gubeng-Cirebon (diverted)
- Logawa Railway (211) Jember-Surabaya Gubeng-Purwokerto (diverted)
- Sritanjung Railway (241) Ketapang-Surabaya Gubeng-Lempuyangan (diverted)
- Jayabaya Railway (107) Malang-Surabaya Gubeng-Pasarturi – Pasarsenen (diverted)
- Arjuno Express Train (107) connection Surabaya Gubeng – Malang (cancelled)
The recent Pandalungan train accident joins the growing number of train mishaps in the past 6 months. Preceding this event, a tragic collision between two trains transpired in Cicalengka, Bandung, claiming the lives of 4 individuals—all train personnel who perished in the line of duty. The exact cause of the Pandalungan train derailment in Sidoarjo remains uncertain as PT KAI is presently conducting a thorough investigation.