Bangkok plans single rail ticketing system with ฿45 fare cap
The planned system would let passengers transfer between rail lines without another entry charge, with a target launch of Jan 1, 2027.
Thailand's Transport Ministry is stepping up preparations for unified ticketing across Bangkok's electric rail services, targeting Jan 1, 2027. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the scheme would limit each trip's fare to ฿45 and remove additional entry charges when passengers switch lines.
Passengers would pay ฿17 to enter the network, with the ฿45 ceiling applying however many lines they take. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) would oversee the central system, while Krungthai Bank would handle back-end operations and calculate fares across operators.
Speaking on the Talk with Anutin Cabinet programme, Phiphat said EMV payments were also expected to be supported, enabling foreign tourists to travel using compatible payment cards. Bringing the Green Line, which uses Rabbit cards, into the EMV system by the launch date is a priority, he said.
Phiphat said many residents spend more than ฿100 daily on travel. He said the cap was intended to lower those costs and make rail journeys in Bangkok and nearby areas more convenient.
Separately, he said the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) was due to receive 2,320 electric buses in 2027: 1,520 between March and May and another 800 in late December. The authority aims to make its whole bus fleet electric by the end of 2027.
