Bangkok rail fare proposal would cap trips at ฿45
The Transport Ministry will seek Cabinet approval on 26 October for the scheme, scheduled to start on 1 January 2027.
Thailand’s Transport Ministry plans to put a ฿45-per-trip fare cap for eight rail lines serving Bangkok and surrounding areas before the Cabinet on 26 October, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said.
The proposal would remove duplicate entry charges for passengers changing lines and cap the initial fare at ฿17. Eligibility would be limited to Thai nationals registered through the Paotang application who pay with EMV contactless cards. Cabinet approval is still required.
Passengers would pay the full fare first with a Visa- or Mastercard-compatible EMV contactless card. Any difference between that payment and the fare payable under the scheme would be returned through Paotang within three days.
Coverage would include the Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Pink, Green and Gold lines, alongside the Airport Rail Link.
The ministry will request ฿5.85 billion for the first year. Of that, ฿5.785 billion would compensate the eight lines for fares, while ฿65 million would cover transfer fees for passenger refunds.
Funding is expected to come from the emergency and necessary expenditure reserve in the 2027 central budget. The Joint Ticket Promotion Fund has yet to receive its initial capital allocation and is still preparing the regulations and announcements needed to operate.
The committee overseeing the unified fare policy discussed the proposal on 21 October at its second meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
