Latest news with #TangRat
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Thai citizens to benefit from 20 baht train fare from October
BANGKOK: The Thai government is on track to implement the imposition of a maximum fare for electric train travel in Greater Bangkok for its citizens. Starting Oct 1, a flat rate of 20 baht (US$0.62) will be implemented for Thai citizens. The scheme covers the entire eight lines comprising 13 routes within Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, spanning 276.84km and 194 stations. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, in a statement on Monday, expressed confidence that the public would significantly benefit from this initiative. Suriya confirmed that by August 2025, eligible Thai citizens would be able to register for the scheme via the government's Tang Rat mobile application. Expressing appreciation to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt for a recent meeting to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation, Suriya said he has also tasked the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to implement a feeder bus system. Short-distance shuttle buses will be deployed along the electric train routes to enhance connectivity and convenience for commuters. He said the government is expediting the establishment of a fund to promote an integrated ticketing system by utilising the accumulated revenue of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to compensate operators for fare revenue shortfalls. The plan to cap electric train fares in Greater Bangkok was approved by the Thai Cabinet earlier this month to reduce commuting costs and encourage motorists to switch to public transportation. - Bernama thailand, electric train, fare, cap, suriya juangroongruangkit, mrta
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Thai Citizens To Benefit From 20 Baht Train Fare Starting October
BANGKOK, July 21 (Bernama) -- The Thai government is on track to implement the imposition of a maximum fare for electric train travel in Greater Bangkok for its citizens. Starting Oct 1, a flat rate of 20 baht (US$0.62) will be implemented for Thai citizens. The scheme covers the entire eight lines comprising 13 routes within Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, spanning 276.84 kilometres and 194 stations. bootstrap slideshow Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, in a statement on Monday, expressed confidence that the public would significantly benefit from this initiative. Suriya confirmed that by August 2025, eligible Thai citizens would be able to register for the scheme via the government's Tang Rat mobile application. Expressing appreciation to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt for a recent meeting to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation, Suriya said he has also tasked the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to implement a feeder bus system. Short-distance shuttle buses will be deployed along the electric train routes to enhance connectivity and convenience for commuters. He said the government is expediting the establishment of a fund to promote an integrated ticketing system by utilising the accumulated revenue of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to compensate operators for fare revenue shortfalls. The plan to cap electric train fares in Greater Bangkok was approved by the Thai Cabinet earlier this month to reduce commuting costs and encourage motorists to switch to public transportation.
Bangkok Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Flat fare a good start
The 20-baht flat fare for electric trains that will run from Oct 1 this year to Sept 30 next year is a welcome move to ease the cost of living for city commuters. It will apply to all eight Bangkok electric train lines with public registration starting in August via the "Tang Rat" mobile app, according to the Ministry of Transport. It's not yet in place, but the public and critics are already wondering how long this generous fare subsidy will last. The fare cap for electric trains and subways in the capital is one of Pheu Thai Party's election promises. While many of the party's bold visions such as the Land Bridge or the casino entertainment complex have fallen flat, the fare cap scheme is perhaps one singular visible achievement that Pheu Thai-led government can brag about. No doubt the party hopes that voters will reward it at the next election. The subsidy will require a budget of seven billion baht a year to keep all city train and subway routes capped at 20 baht. For this year, Deputy PM and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit forked out the money from the State Railway of Thailand's budget. Some critics say the subsidy unfairly takes money that should go into improving the railway system overall. A bigger problem is that the subsidy could actually cost more than budgeted. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which oversees the crowded Green Line, reports needing 11 billion baht in compensation for the line's operations every year. Mr Suriya last year floated the idea of collecting a congestion fee from private vehicles to fund the subsidy. This approach has been adopted in many cities around the world including London and Singapore but unfortunately did not pan out. His plan to pass a law to create a common ticketing system for electric trains also failed to gain traction. Consumers, of course, have been waiting for more than a decade for governments to develop a convenient ticketing system that works on subways and skytrains without incurring extra fees when they switch between the two. Yet the bigger question is whether the fare cap helps improve connectivity and convenience over the mass transport system, or is just a populist handout intended to appease voters? Unfortunately, the fare cap works like a short-term painkiller to ease the cost of living. There is no systematic or follow-up plan to improve connectivity and the quality of public bus services that will feed commuters to city trains and subways. Without better connectivity between city trains, subways and public buses, the fare cap will only encourage some people, perhaps not many, to leave their cars at home and use state-provided mass transit. The government deserves praise for trying to fulfil its pledge and help cut transport costs. But what the public want is a sustainable model that makes public transport accessible and ensures its quality. A fare cap subsidy which comes and goes at the will of elected politicians is not that.
Bangkok Post
12-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
B20 fare a 'short-term painkiller'
The ex-deputy leader of the Democrat Party, an expert in the transportation industry, has expressed concern about the sustainability of the government's 20-baht fare policy for Bangkok's electric trains, warning that without a long-term financial framework, the scheme may only last a year. Samart Ratchapolsitte, who also ranks as a former deputy governor of Bangkok for Public Works and Traffic, described the policy as a "short-term painkiller" introduced ahead of upcoming elections. He questioned how long the government could maintain the scheme amid budgetary and operational challenges. The cabinet recently approved the policy, which will run from Oct 1 to Sept 30 next year. It aims to reduce living costs and encourage commuters to shift from private vehicles to public transport. Registration will open next month via the state-developed Tang Rat app, while QR code payments via the app are planned for the future. However, budgetary concerns loom large, he said. The government allocated 5.6 billion baht for the first year, lower than earlier estimates of around 8 billion baht, which included subsidies for agencies such as the State Railway of Thailand, Mass Rapid Transit Authority, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), plus 156 million baht for a central revenue management system. The BMA alone reports needing 11 billion baht in compensation, indicating a significant shortfall as the allocated budget covers less than a quarter of this requirement.
Bangkok Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Cabinet approves B20 Bangkok train fare cap
The cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to cap all train fares in Greater Bangkok at 20 baht from Oct 1 to help commuters reduce travel costs and entice drivers to switch to mass transit. Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said attracting more car users to travel by train would also reduce pollution in the capital and its surrounding provinces. The cheap train ride scheme will cover all 13 mass transit lines, including the Airport Rail Link, covering a network of 280 kilometres and 194 stations across Greater Bangkok. The policy is exclusively for Thai nationals, who can register using the government's Tang Rat app starting in August. Foreigners will still have to pay posted fares in excess of 20 baht where applicable. Commuters who register must link either their Rabbit prepaid card or EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) contactless credit card to the app, depending on the routes they use. The Rabbit card will be valid for the Green, Gold, Yellow and Pink lines, while EMV contactless cards can be used for the Red, Blue, Purple, Pink and Yellow lines and the Airport Rail Link. In the future, officials say, the system will also allow commuters to use QR codes from their bank apps, providing more convenience and flexibility. Mr Jirayu said the new fare system could save the country 10 billion baht a year in terms of fuel expenses and costs of damage from road accidents and combatting pollution. Benefits of the project will be assessed one year after the launch, he added. The 20-baht flat fare currently applies to the Red and Purple electric train lines. Fares on other mass-transit systems vary by distance, ranging from 17 to 43 baht on MRT routes and 15 to 62 baht on the BTS Skytrain system. Most mass transit lines are operated under concessions granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA). Some routes such as the Purple Line are directly controlled by the MRTA and the agency has commissioned SET-listed Bangkok Expressway and Metro Co to run them. To compensate operators for their losses, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has said the government will set up a joint ticketing fund, with an estimated 8 billion baht from the MRTA's profits and state coffers.
