MRT, BTS fares to drop in 2 years
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Yongsit Rojsrikul, governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), said the government plan to collect a flat Bt20 fee for travel on all routes of Bangkok's underground and elevated trains would come into effect within two years.
The MRTA has negotiated with its partners, MRT subway operator Bangkok Metro (BMCL) and the Skytrain’s Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS).
The time frame has been set for two years because the number of commuters will quickly rise thanks to the lowered fare, and the number of trains should be sufficient to demand.
BMCL currently has 19 trains in operation, and needs to double that number to serve future demand, Yongsit said.
He noted that the MRTA would continue its expansion. The Blue and Purple lines, now under construction, were delayed by last year’s flood crisis. The Cabinet will be asked to consider an extension of another 180 days for the construction falling under the responsibility of the private sector as a result of these delays.
Projects continue for the Green, Orange, Yellow, and Pink lines, covering outer Bangkok.
With a budget of some Bt500 billion, Yongsit said, the cost was covered for up to seven years.
Once completed, Bangkok will have a commuter rail network of more than 200km, like other big cities.
The MRTA will manage the system and related services for further investment without depending on government funding alone.
