The new welfare programme, which is still under development, will allow citizens with a monthly income under Bt2,422 to register as poor so that they can get an e-ticket. 
	The other classifications are children, the disabled, the elderly, veterans and Buddhist monks, novices and nuns. 
	Students from primary to university levels are also categorised as poor. The discount tentatively agreed on is 50 per cent. 
	Permanent secretary Soithip Traisutthi said yesterday the subsidy had been in place for a few years and 63 per cent of low-income earners had availed of train services while 18 per cent of them used city buses. 
	Of the policy&rsquo;s beneficiaries, 23 per cent were students and 41 per cent employees. 
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Transport Ministry modifies free-ride scheme

The Transport Ministry is replacing the free-ride-for-all scheme on city buses and long-haul trains in July with half-fare passes for the needy and the disadvantaged.