Transport Ministry defers MRT Blue Line fare hike
The Transport Ministry will delay a fare hike of the MRT train plying the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon route, also known as Blue Line, until December 31 in a bid to help alleviate people’s financial burden.
The Blue Line fare was originally scheduled to rise by 1 baht from the sixth station onwards and capped at 43 baht from July 3.
Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Wednesday that the ministry had proposed the price hike to the Cabinet in March in keeping with the concession contract with the operator, Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA). Under the contract, the fare must be revised every two years based on the Ministry of Commerce’s current consumer price index. The current fare is due for revision on July 2.
The Cabinet on Tuesday gave the green light to increase the fare by one baht at the sixth, ninth, 11th and 12th stations from July 3 onwards.
“To help reduce the people’s cost of living, the MRT Blue Line fare will remain the same until the year-end, starting at 17 baht and capped at 42 baht,” said Saksayam. “Furthermore, children under 14 years old with height not over 120cm and elders aged 60 and over will get 50 per cent discount, while students aged not over 23 years will get 10 per cent discount on MRT fares until December 31.”
MRT Blue Line has a total length of 48 kilometres and 38 stations, starting at Tha Phra station in Bangkok Yai district and terminating at Lak Song station in Bang Khae.
