Train agency told to improve service, rather than raising fare
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Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt on Wednesday put a brake on the State Railway of Thailand's proposal to raise the economy-class fares, fearing that it could affect poor passengers.
At the meeting with the SRT over the fare structure, he said that most passengers of the class are poor. As such, the government needs to consider this proposal thoroughly. He admitted that the SRT is operating at a loss due to the low fare. For the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route, a ticket costs Bt50 while the actual cost is Bt200.
Chadchart however viewed that the SRT
The SRT claimed that it could raise the fare by 10 per cent to improve its balance sheet. This would raise its annual income by Bt190 million. The fare has been maintained through the past 20 years.
Chadchart noted that the SRT should look into new ways to boost the revenue, including the improvement of services which will attract more passengers.
If the number of passengers increases by 10 per cent on improved services, this would be better than raising the fare and witness a 10 per cent loss of passengers, he said.
"The SRT will need to consider this thoroughly," he noted.
He also referred to comments from passengers collected during the special train trip to Nakhon Pathom last week. Most of them are still dissatisfied with the services, mostly concerning dirty toilets, impolite on-duty staff and smoking on the carriage.
