Free fares to run through March
Government-sponsored free public bus and economy-class train services, which expired on Sunday, will be extended until March 31 next year, government spokeswoman Sansanee Narkpong said yesterday.
The scheme covers 800 public buses on 73 routes in the Bangkok metropolitan area.
The government has subsidised the Bangkok Mass Transport Company (BMTA) by Bt1.5 billion to extend the transport benefit. Another subsidy of Bt555 million was granted to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for 172 free economy-class trains a day.
The government also extended the tax exemption on diesel fuel, which also expired on Sunday, to the end of this month.
BMTA Director Opart Petchmunee earlier said that more than 900,000 passengers use the free buses daily. The cost is Bt30 million per month while the bus company is receiving monthly compensation of Bt190 million.
SRT Governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said there are 28 million to 30 million passengers using free train service each year while the compensation is about Bt62 million to Bt82 million a month.
