This study discusses how railway safety can be improved by reducing accident risks at level crossings, where railway tracks and road traffic intersect at the same ground level. The issue is highlighted through a train accident in Bekasi, Indonesia, which caused fatalities and injuries, showing that level crossings remain one of the most dangerous points in the railway transport system.
The problem with level crossings
The main problem with level crossings is the direct interaction between trains, vehicles, and pedestrians. In Indonesia, many crossings are still unguarded, lack automatic barriers, or have limited visibility for train drivers and road users. While adding guards and automatic gates can help, the study argues that a safer long-term solution is to eliminate direct crossings through grade separation.
Learning from Melbourne
Melbourne is used as a case study because of its Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), which aims to remove more than 110 level crossings by 2030. The program builds flyovers or underpasses depending on site conditions. Beyond improving safety and mobility, the project also transforms former railway-adjacent spaces into public amenities such as parks, playgrounds, rain gardens, amphitheatres, and cycling lanes.
“Beyond improving safety and mobility, the project also transforms former railway-adjacent spaces into public amenities such as parks, playgrounds, rain gardens, amphitheatres, and cycling lanes.”
Design, not just discipline
The study shows that railway safety should not only be addressed through technical infrastructure, but also through public awareness and better urban design. Melbourne's “Dumb Ways to Die” campaign demonstrates how creative communication can encourage safer behavior around trains. For Indonesia, the best approach would combine closing illegal crossings, improving temporary safety facilities, and prioritizing flyovers or underpasses at high-risk locations to create a safer and more integrated urban transport system.