Economy

BTS skytrain maximum fare rate increasing to 158 baht despite backlash

Published

Sunday, January 17, 2021 11:13

Bangkok’s BTS skytrain maximum fare rate is being raised to 158 baht despite receiving backlash over the hike. The Transport Ministry is behind the calls for City Hall to stop the increase as it says it is too expensive for the average commuter who takes the BTS 2 times a day. Saksayam Chidchob, the Transport Minister, says other routes should be explored before increasing the costs for commuters.

“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration should halt its policy on new BTS maximum fare and wait for other authorities to find proper solutions.”

The BMA and Transport Ministry were jointly appointed to set the fare’s ceiling in 2018, but it appears the BMA is now taking control of the new price hike. The BMA and Interior Ministry were previously responsible for granting concessions for the skytrain’s operation but the Transport Ministry is also part of the reviewing committee for extending the concessions and overall investments in the country’s mass transit system.

But deals are being made by the BMA that appear to ignore the Transport Ministry’s equal role in making decisions and the ministry says such actions are breaching co-investment laws. It isn’t the first time the BMA has made decisions without the Transport Ministry’s joint approval.

Before the new hike in fares, it previously extended concessions to the current Bangkok Mass Transit System in order to keep the fare ceiling at 65 baht. Now, making a new deal that would see passengers paying more than double in total fares across the skytrain system is being seen as pushing the envelope.

What is not clear is why the fares are being hiked when the country is suffering economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though the new maximum is set to rollout on February 16, Bangkok’s governor has offered to bring the new maximum down to 104 for a short period of time in consideration of the recent Covid outbreak.

But even increasing the fare to 104 baht is being widely opposed. The secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution says even the discounted rate is too expensive for daily commuters. And, the date for the discount ending has not been announced.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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25 Comments

Loutarzoon

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 11:46 am

Even in Europe, 4 to 5 times more in average living costs, its a lot cheaper.. Thais becoming slaves

Reply
Jesus Monroe

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 12:11 pm

Not only are the thais screwing farangs they are happy to screw their own people too it seems…..

Reply
Toby Andrews

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1:03 pm

Well it is B90 to go one stop on a London bus, so for a Brit the Skytrain is a bargain.
But that is only because the Thais have not worked out a viable way of charging a ferang more.

Reply
- Don jones
  
  Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 2:12 pm
  
  So Thais living in London are being completely ripped off.No ?
  
  Reply
- Don jones
  
  Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 2:15 pm
  
  So Thais living in London are being ripped off as well as the plebs to pay for the ridiculous wages of London Transport staff
  
  Reply
  - Toby Andrews
    
    Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 4:50 pm
    
    No, they are paying the local prices, which a great many foreigners are not allowed to do in Thailand.
    Consult 2price Thailand and see the photographs that show the Thai prices for admission in Thai script so that the foreigners will not understand what the Thais price is, and will not object to paying three time more than a Thai.
    THAIS IN LONDON ARE NOT RIPPED OFF. i NEVER WROTE AT ANY TIME THEY WERE!
    can’t you read?
    
    Reply
    - Mr cynic
      
      Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 6:22 pm
      
      thais most certainly are ripped off in london when it comes to public transport costs along with everybody else who lives or visit the place,ask any Londoner and they’l soon put you right on that score.
      
      Reply
      - Toby Andrews
        
        Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:31 am
        
        Yes they are, but they have the satisfaction of knowing everyone is being ripped off, not just foreigners, which is not the case in Thailand where they conspire to rip off forangs, and not Thais.
        I was shocked to see the latest public transport charges in London.
        I lived in London for ten years.
        What is gratifying is that the black taxis, who are some of the most expensive in the world, are stored in parks outside London. Not many will hire them.
    - Steve
      
      Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:50 am
      
      Absolutley right!
      
      Reply
- Me
  
  Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 5:04 pm
  
  What bus services in London charge you per stop?
  
  Reply
  - Toby Andrews
    
    Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:24 am
    
    B90
    
    Reply
    - Gazmo
      
      Monday, January 18, 2021 at 1:53 pm
      
      Buy a top up travel card similar to the Rabbit card here and you will pay alot less. You can not pay cash on London transport and the cards can be purchased in almost any Newsagent or Grocery shop. The current fare prices are a rip off and have now become a money maker for the Mayor of London to fund his daft cycle lanes throughout London.
      
      Reply
Ted

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1:29 pm

A simple question; does Thai uni’s teach ‘market research’? Do they have research data [that] says, the increased price will not scare away, an daily increasing, numbers of commuters?

If they have done their research, well I feel sorry for those who uses BTS on a daily basis to make an income.
If they haven’t done their research, still feels sorry for those who uses BTS on a daily basis to make an income

Reply
John is my biggest fan

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 2:22 pm

Hahaha, the BTS is more expensive than the Hong Kong MTR!

Reply
Mister Stretch

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:05 pm

65 – 158 jump?

Someone’s having a laugh.

Even this farang would find an alternative, if possible.

158 every day, twice a day, if you are one of those that have to pay the max would be tortuous if you were accustomed to only paying 65, which to be honest, for a Thai, still seems a bit high.

Time for lots of people to find jobs closer to home, or time to shift homes.

Reply
- Voteforme
  
  Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:24 pm
  
  If they triple the price and lose half the riders… they’re making more money.
  
  But ya, 9000b/mo. That’s more than most people’s rent.
  
  Bts should be free or Almost free especially for low income thai people, paid with the peoples tax money.
  
  Reply
- Ted
  
  Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:25 pm
  
  My wife used to pay 150/day (motorbike to and from the station + BTS train to and from to her office). She did this, even tough, she had a [choice] car but didn’t feel like sitting a few hours, through Silom and Sukhumvit, traffic jams, 5 days a week.
  I wonder how many more has the same option, I guessing quite a few so this won’t help with Bkk’s traffic situation, at all.
  
  Reply
Deke

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:48 pm

I see a return to the use of bicycles.

Reply
The elite

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 9:59 pm

It is a screening process. If you do not want to pay the price, you can take cheaper ways of transportation like free buses and get stuck on the traffic with pollution. Soon there will be only high income commuters to use the BTS.

Reply
- Babadoo
  
  Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 1:32 am
  
  why do they move to other areas across the BKK? let them work in their areas. people coming from remote areas are taking away jobs of locals. This not normal. Market.
  
  Reply
Issan John

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:13 am

Hardly an incentive to use the BTS instead of the bus or a motor-bike taxi and so reduce pollution … ho hummm ….

Reply
Leonardo

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 5:58 am

New York City Subway fare is approximately 75 Baht and you can go anywhere it goes for that price

Reply
- Ted
  
  Monday, January 18, 2021 at 11:00 am
  
  That gives us a perspective. Stockholm, where I worked before settling down in Bkk, approx. 160 thb for a single journey but that includes all different means of transport [buses, underground trains, commuter trains, trams, and certain ferry lines] you need to take to get from A to B.
  
  Reply
  - John is My Biggest Fan
    
    Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:08 pm
    
    The longest journey on Hong Kong Island on the MTR (Chai Wan to Kennedy Town) is just 10.7HKD which is 41THB…
    
    Not only is the MTR much cheaper it’s clean, efficient, convenient and wait for it… underground. The BTS doesn’t even have escalators to all of its entrances/exits.
    
    The worst thing about the BTS – it an absolute eyesore.
    
    Reply
Dystophia

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 11:37 am

It’s seems the world is headed towards an economic collapse. The green economy is being pushed quickly. Eventually gas powered motorcycles, cars, trucks and other vehicles will be phased out as well. The cost of gasoline will be increased; eventhough Mataphut Oil Refinery is sucking it right out of the Gulf of Thailand. Greed is going to destroy this world. We may just have to go back to horseback, water buffalo riding, walking, or riding a bicycle. As it is, this all invisible enemy virus mumbo jumbo is bankrupting people into poverty.

Reply