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Informal settlements have dominated many urban areas in Indonesia. They are usually found in areas dedicated as buffer zones between transportation lines and areas outside them. This research has three objectives: identifying and understanding the characteristics of informal settlements along railways, analyzing factors that are frequently associated with common problems and drawing public attention, and setting priorities for future research. Data was collected by reviewing 50 online-accessible news articles published in various media from 2017 to 2023. The selection process of these sources was based on the purposive sampling principle. This study then applies manifest content analysis by adopting topic analysis that is run through the JMP application. Study findings demonstrate that perception of the opportunity to occupy available spaces tends to be neutral, while issues about vulnerability, legal status, safety, and ownership harvest negative perceptions. Factors that often cause common problems and attract public attention include high rents, poor sanitation, threats of eviction, legal uncertainties, safety risks, and inability to access basic services. Keywords: perception of characteristics; informal settlements; railway infrastructure buffer area; media opinion study; transportation infrastructure Abstrak Permukiman informal telah mendominasi area perkotaan di Indonesia. Mereka biasanya ditemukan di area yang membatasi alur transportasi dengan area di sekitarnya. Penelitian ini memiliki tiga tujuan, yaitu: mengidentifikasi dan memahami karakteristik permukiman informal di sepanjang jalur kereta api; menganalisis faktor-faktor yang diasosiasikan dengan beragam masalah umum dan menarik perhatian publik; serta merumuskan prioritas studi lanjutan yang perlu dilaksanakan ke depan. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan mereview 50 artikel berita online yang dipublikasi pada periode 2017-2023. Proses seleksi dari sumber data ini dilaksanakan berdasarkan prinsip purposive sampling. Studi ini kemudian menerapkan manifest content analysis dengan mengadopsi analisis topik yang dioperasikan melalui aplikasi JMP. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa persepsi terkait kesempatan untuk mengakses ruang untuk tinggal cenderung netral. Sementara isu kerentanan, status legal, keselamatan, dan kepemilikan memiliki persepsi yang negatif. Faktor-faktor yang sering kali menimbulkan masalah umum dan menarik perhatian publik meliputi sewa yang tinggi, kondisi sanitasi yang buruk, ancaman penggusuran, ketidakpastian status legal, risiko keamanan, dan ketidakmampuan mengakses layanan dasar. Kata kunci: persepsi karakteristik; permukiman informal; sempadan infrastruktur kereta api; studi opini media; infrastruktur transportasi