Registration for a ฿20 flat fare on Bangkok’s mass transit lines began Monday, although the legislation required to support the scheme has not yet been approved by Parliament.
Registrations were available through the Tang Rat app for Rabbit Card holders and microchip-enabled EMV Card users. The program is limited to Thai citizens, verified by the 13-digit ID number issued by the Interior Ministry.
Scheduled to start on October 1, the scheme allows riders to travel on the same train for up to 180 minutes and transfer to other lines within 30 minutes. It covers all 13 electric train lines across Greater Bangkok, serving 194 stations and used by approximately 1.7 million people daily.
The government, led by the Pheu Thai Party, aims to boost ridership by 20%. However, former Bangkok deputy governor Samart Ratchapolsitte warned of potential increasing public debt due to subsidies needed to sustain the program.
Implementation depends on passing three key bills through both houses of Parliament. The Rail Transport Bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. The government is also pushing for the passage of the Common Ticketing System Management Bill and the revised Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand Bill, with hopes they will pass this week.
These bills are essential: the common ticketing bill covers funding mechanisms for the scheme, while the MRT Bill addresses the authority’s role and revenue contributions necessary for the program’s operation.