Various forms of railway signaling are used in Indonesia, where they are known as semboyan. They include messages and signs in the form of hand signals, voice, shapes, colour, or light placed in a place with a certain meaning to regulate and control train operations. Railway signal can be in the form of commands or prohibitions demonstrated through officers, or tools in the form of shapes, colours, or sounds including signals, signals, and signs; or notifications through marks about track conditions, distinctions, boundaries, and certain instructions.
Railway signalling in Indonesia is influenced by Dutch signalling system and follows the Utrecht Convention on Railway Signaling, especially the Siemens & Halske signalling, Alkmaar type signalling and the "krian" tebeng, which became the foundation of modern Indonesian mechanical signalling. Electrical signalling began to be introduced in Java in the 1970s when signalling installations at Bandung Station and Solo Balapan were carried out by PNKA/PJKA and Siemens Mobility. In the 1980s and continuing to accelerate until now, many mechanical signalling systems have changed to electrical for several reasons such as operational efficiency and increased train traffic related to the construction of double track.
The influence of Dutch signalling in Indonesian railways is outlined in Regulation 3 on Signals (drafted during the Staatsspoorwegen period and refined by the Railway Service), which was later revised in 2010 with Service Regulation 3 on Signals. The old regulation had different interpretations of colours, namely white as a sign of "safe", green as a sign of "limited speed", and red as a "danger sign". However, Service Regulation 3 regulates the colour green as a sign of "safe", and yellow as "limited speed". This regulation also influenced the Ministry of Transportation in drafting PM No. 10 of 2011 concerning Technical Requirements for Railway Signaling Equipment.
The latest railway signal in Indonesia is regulated in Service Regulation 3 of PT Kereta Api Indonesia concerning Signals and is effective according to the Decree of the Board of Directors of PT Kereta Api Indonesia Number KEP.U/HK.215/VII/1/KA-2010. It shows all the signals that need to be understood by all parties involved in the train journey (for example train dispatcher (pengatur perjalanan kereta api, PPKA), engine, conductor, signalman, and shunting officer).
This new regulation causes changes to a number of old signals, so that some are added, combined, or no longer used (no longer valid): Rarely used train signals (such as signals 22âÂÂ28) are removed; signals that are added with new ones such as signals 8A-8P, 9A1-9J, and 10A-10L; signals that are combined (signals 14 and 15 become 14A-14B; signals 16 and 17 become 16A-16B, and signals 10 and 11 become 11A-11B).
Some old signals that are no longer needed or have been replaced, for example signal 27 which indicates crossing trains, previously used lights signals have now been replaced by the use of radio communication.
In the new Service Regulation there are also changes in colours, such as what was previously white becomes green as a sign of safety, and what was previously green becomes yellow as a sign of less safety.
The following is a list of train signals (semboyan in Indonesian) that apply at PT Kereta Api Indonesia. These signals are compiled based on PT Kereta Api Indonesia Service Regulation 3 on Signals as a replacement for Regulation 3 on Signals, and adapted nationally in the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 10 of 2011 concerning Technical Requirements for Railway Signaling Equipment.
A railway signal (semboyan di jalur kereta api) is a railway signal that is placed on the right side of the railway track, except in certain conditions it can also be placed on the left side of the railway track. Railway signals are divided into temporary, permanent, switch, water funnel, weighbridge, and free space boundaries.
A temporary signal (semboyan sementara) is a signal that is signalled by hand by PPKA or level crossing guards, or in the form of signs installed on the right side of the railway track; generally hand signals are signalled when there is a disturbance on the journey or passing through a path that must be passed at a limited speed and with caution.
A temporary sign is a sign signalled by hand by PPKA or level crossing guards, or in the form of signs installed on the right side of the railroad tracks; generally a hand sign is signalled when there is a disturbance on the way or passing through a path that must be passed at a limited speed and with caution.
A permanent signal is a train signal in the form of a display that is installed in a fixed place and is located on the edge of the rail track. This signal consists of signals, signs, and markings.
The railway signalling in Indonesia is divided into two, namely mechanical signalling and electrical signalling. Mechanical signalling is the oldest railway signalling in Indonesia in the form of arm signals (semaphores) and tebeng signals. However, because train traffic on tracks with mechanical signals is getting denser, one by one the Indonesian railway signalling system is changed to electrical signals.
A sign is a type of permanent signal that provides instructions or certain information on the railway track. Signs are generally in the form of commands or prohibitions that must be obeyed by engine drivers or other train crew officers during the journey.
Markings are permanent signs that inform about track conditions, distinctions, boundaries, or certain instructions. Markings are different from signs, signs generally give orders or prohibitions to the train crew on duty.
A switch signal is a signal that indicates the direction of the track to be taken when passing a branch in the rail line (switch) when a train enters or leaves a station. The railway line that branches into two uses the regular switch system, while the railway line that intersects uses the English switch system.
Other signals include the signals water funnel, weighbridge, and clearance limit. A water funnel is a device used to introduce water into the boiler of a steam locomotive. A weighbridge is a device used to weigh the mass of a passing train. Clearance limit is a diagram used to determine the maximum height and width dimensions of a facility train and its load.
A train signal is a signal given by a train driver or crew officer regarding the conditions of the road to be travelled, using light signals, sound, flags, signs, or other media.
A visible signal is a train signal given by the engine driver or train crew officer regarding the road conditions to be passed, using sign lights, flags, signs, or other media. Specifically for signal 22âÂÂ28 are removed in Service Regulation 3 because they are rarely used, except when the train carrying the signal crosses or is followed by an extraordinary train (KLB) or an optional train (only operated on certain days). In addition, it also provides a warning to people or animals that a train will pass.
A voice signal (semboyan suara) is a signal that is sent using voice. PPKA, conductor, or train crew officers send voice signals through a mouthpiece, bugle, or whistle; while engine driver sends voice signals through locomotive horn.
A Yarding signal is a signal given by a shuttle officer to a shuttle engineer in the form of a signal to go forward, backward, stop, slowly, or pass a level crossing. Shuttle signals use hand signals and whistles, mouth flutes, or bugles. If the shuttle officer sends a shuttle signal to the engineer on duty, the engineer must respond by sounding the locomotive horn (Semboyan 51).
The bell signal involves a bell (bell) in the train travel controller (PPKA) or platform supervisor (PAP) room of a train station or at a level crossing. The bell is operated by electromagnetic induction by a PPKA or PAP officer at the station. Each series of bell sounds consists of five double strikes, and each double strike consists of two different sounds. This signal is sent to the crossing guard or PPKA of the next station that there will be news about the departure, arrival, or cancellation of a train trip.
The Tebeng signalling device was the first railway signalling equipment used on Staatsspoorwegen lines since it first operated in 1878. The Krian signalling device () was a development of the Tebeng signal, which used a tall tower equipped with locking equipment. The name of this signalling equipment is attributed to Krian Station, a railway station in Sidoarjo Regency, which was also the first station to use the signalling. The last railway line to use the Krian signal was the KalisatâÂÂPanarukan railway line, which was closed in 2004. It is recorded that the Krian signal has been preserved at Krian Station, Tamanan Station, Ambarawa Railway Museum, and Garut Station.
The Krian signal is moved using a lever installed near the station's PPKA room, causing the tebeng to move and The driver will follow the aspect indicated by the tebeng-tebeng. Krian signals can have two or three aspects. In the two-aspect krian signal, the "stop" aspect is indicated by a red board that can be seen by the driver, while the "go" or "walk carefully" aspect is indicated by a red board that is moved 90 degrees so that it is not visible to the driver. Meanwhile, in the three-aspect krian signal, the "stop" aspect is indicated by a red board that can be seen by the driver, the "walk carefully" aspect is indicated by an invisible red board, with an upright arm, and the "walk" aspect is indicated by an arm that looks diagonal.