Maretha Uli, Jakarta – Boarding the women-only car on Jakarta's commuter trains no longer feels the same for Feni Freycinetia after Monday's deadly collision that killed 16 women traveling in the same section of the train.
"There is a lingering sense of unease. I used to feel completely safe taking the train, but now I keep thinking, what if that incident happened to me?" the mother of one told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
On Monday night, an intercity train traveling from Jakarta to East Java slammed into the rear car of a commuter train at Bekasi Timur Station in Bekasi, West Java. The commuter train had been waiting for clearance to continue its journey after another train on the opposite track struck a stalled electric taxi at a nearby level crossing.
Sixteen women riding in the rear women-only car were killed and dozens of others injured.
"I was honestly devastated. I felt like crying because, as women, we could really relate to what happened," Feni said.
"I take the commuter train every day, and the rear women-only car is one I often ride in too. It just felt heartbreaking because something like that could happen to anyone. I could have been there too."
The 39-year-old East Jakarta resident relies on the Commuter Line to travel to her office near Karet Station in South Jakarta.
Safe space
Women-only cars on Jakarta's commuter trains, which carry an average of 1.1 million passengers daily between the capital and surrounding cities, were introduced in 2010 to improve women's safety amid widespread sexual harassment on public transportation. The designated cars are located at the front and rear ends of each train.
But the last car was the most severely damaged when the Argo Bromo Anggrek intercity train, traveling at around 110 kilometers per hour, collided with the ill-fated commuter train on the Cikarang line on Monday, at around 8.50 p.m.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, many women commuters now face a painful dilemma, as the space intended to protect them has also become associated with fear and vulnerability.
Meidwi Ardini, 31, uses the Cikarang line from Tambun, Bekasi regency, every day to commute to her office in South Jakarta, take her child to school and travel on weekends.
After the line resumed full operations on Wednesday, she said she found herself boarding the rear car as usual despite lingering anxiety, especially after learning that working mothers like her were among the victims.
"I tried to overcome my fear because I believe everything is in God's hands. If it is my time to die, then it will happen," she said on Thursday.
Meidwi said she would continue using the women-only car because it allows her to commute without worrying about sexual harassment, which remains common on crowded trains during rush hour, when male and female passengers are often pressed closely together.
Another Cikarang line commuter, Nisrina Furwaningrum, 30, said she preferred the women-only car not only for comfort but also convenience, as it is located closer to the lift at Cibitung Station in Bekasi, where she usually gets off.
Learning of Monday's collision left her shaken.
"We, as women, feel comfortable in the women-only car, but it turns out it is not entirely safe," she said on Thursday.
Even so, Nisrina said she would continue using the Commuter Line out of necessity.
"Life must go on and no matter what, I still need the Commuter Line. I just hope that after this incident, KAI can improve and strengthen safety measures," she added, referring to state-owned railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia.
Solutions for all
The fact that all the fatalities in Monday's collision were women has intensified public discussion over safety on commuter trains.
Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi initially responded by suggesting that women-only cars be relocated to the middle section of trains.
The proposal, however, quickly drew criticism from the public and transportation experts, who argued that it merely shifted risk from one group to another rather than improving safety for all passengers regardless of gender.
The minister later apologized, saying, "it was not my intention to ignore the safety of other passengers".
Railway expert Deddy Herlambang of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) said women-only cars were already a special service intended to provide privacy and comfort for female passengers.
He stressed that relocating the cars would not reduce accident risks.
"Safety is not about rearranging the train placement, but about improving infrastructure and management," Deddy said on Thursday.
He urged KAI to strengthen rail safety by separating commuter and intercity train tracks, implementing automatic train protection systems and improving work-hour management to prevent train driver fatigue.