Joint BTS-MRT tickets agreed in principle
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THE LONG-AWAITED joint ticketing for Bangkok's two mass-transit systems looks like becoming reality early next year, as a key meeting yesterday involving Transport Minister Prajin Juntong agreed in principle to the idea.
The proposal by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, Bangkok Mass Transit System, which runs the Skytrain, and Metropolitan Rapid Transit, which runs the subway, will be submitted to the Cabinet for initial approval in two weeks’ time, Prajin said.
Incorporation of services
Other public transport services including the Airport Rail Link, city buses and commuter boats will later be incorporated into this joint ticket scheme, he said.
The joint scheme should reduce ticket prices apart from adding convenience for commuters, he said.
A joint committee to push for the scheme will be set up, with Prajin presiding over it.
A clearing-house body will be set up to calculate the rates and revenue sharing between MRT and BTS, and other transport services that will later join the scheme.
To operate this joint ticket scheme for the long term, a business enterprise owned 40 per cent by the state, which will invest Bt600 million, will also be established.
