Fare play: Bangkok’s Green Line extension bets on 15-baht flat fee, rolling out in January

The Green Line extension of the Bangkok Mass Transit System, also known as the BTS Skytrain, is set to begin charging a flat fare of 15 baht across the entire line, with the implementation projected to start in January next year. The fare will apply to the second extended section, which includes Mo Chit to Saphan Mai to Khu Khot, and Bearing to Samut Prakan.

The Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wisanu Subsompon, revealed the plan as a solution to the debt problem of the Green Line project. It was also stated that the fare rate would not be overly burdensome to the public and would generate income for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

With approximately 250,000 passengers using the extended lines daily, revenue could reach between three to four million baht per day.

Currently, no fare is being collected, thereby burdening the BMA with the cost of project management and operation, which exceeds 20 billion baht. The Traffic and Transport Department of the BMA will ensure all steps are properly and legally taken before the declaration is issued by the Governor of Bangkok to avoid any future legal issues.

Wisanu stated that the declaration of the fare for the Green Line must be carefully considered by the BMA, in compliance with the resolution of the Cabinet meeting on November 26, 2018.

The resolution instructs the Ministry of Transport and the BMA to coordinate and connect various electric train projects, including the initial fare and the use of a common ticketing system.

Green Line Fare

The meeting discussed the collection of fares for the second extension of the Green Line, in conjunction with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Office of Rail Transport (ORT), and the Bangkok Mass Transit Public Company Limited (BMTC), which the BMA has entrusted with the operation of the Green Line extensions.

Initial plans are to charge a temporary fare of 15 baht for the entire extended line, with no initial charge. When the system changes, the fare for each route will be charged as usual, reported KhaoSod.

The BMA has prepared to install a common ticketing system to support full fare collection based on the distance connected to other projects in the future.

The BMA will expedite the conclusion of all operations and submit the matter to the Attorney General for further review, including checking the separation of the debt for the installation of the rail system (E&M) from the debt for the operation and maintenance system (O&M) according to the study results of the Special Committee of the BMA Council.

Once all conclusions are obtained, the BMA will report to the Ministry of Interior and the Cabinet for acknowledgement. If approved, the Governor of Bangkok will sign a declaration in advance of 30 days. It is expected that the fare collection for the second extension of the Green Line will begin around January next year.