Thailand considers extending rail pass scheme for Red and Purple lines
The Ministry of Transport will submit a proposal to the Cabinet to extend the daily pass scheme until Friday (December 31, 2027).
- The Thai government is considering extending its "flat-rate daily pass" scheme for the SRT Red Line and the MRTA Purple Line.
- The current scheme is scheduled to end on November 30, and the proposed extension would continue it until December 31, 2027.
- The policy's goal is to continue reducing the public's travel expenses and easing the cost of living.
- The consideration for extension is supported by data showing the scheme has significantly increased both passenger journeys and fare revenue on the two lines.
Deputy government spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan said on Sunday (October 25, 2026) that, under the government’s policy to “reduce people’s expenses”, the Ministry of Transport had tasked the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) with implementing a “flat-rate daily pass” scheme.
The measure is due to end on November 30.
The committee overseeing the implementation of electric rail fare policy to ease the burden of living costs has considered a proposal to extend the scheme until December 31, 2027.
The scheme covers SRT’s Red Line suburban railway services on the Nakhon Withi route between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Taling Chan and the Thani Ratthaya route between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Rangsit, as well as the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Chalong Ratchadham Line (Purple Line) of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).
The measure is intended to continue easing the public’s travel costs during the transition period.
The Ministry of Transport will submit the proposal to the Cabinet for consideration under the required procedures.
Ploythalay said the daily pass scheme for the Red and Purple lines began on December 1, 2025.
She outlined the results using cumulative data through the end of August 2026.
The data showed a marked increase on both lines in passenger journeys paid for with contactless cards using the Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) standard.
The Red Line averaged 9,460 passenger journeys per day, up 89.01%, while daily fare revenue averaged THB310,000, up 212.43%.
The Purple Line recorded an average of 27,653 passenger journeys per day, up 135.41%, with average daily fare revenue of THB600,000, up 275.00%.
Combined, the two lines averaged 37,113 passenger journeys per day using EMV Contactless cards, up 121.54%.
The figures reflected the measure’s positive impact in encouraging rail travel, with gains in both passenger journeys and fare revenue, as well as growing use of EMV Contactless cards to pay fares.
The data provide an important basis for considering an extension of the measure.
