Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has advanced plans to cap fares across all mass transit lines in Greater Bangkok at 20 baht. The completion of this initiative is now expected by September next year, with the Green, Gold, and Airport Rail Link lines scheduled to be the final ones included. This updated timeline follows the minister’s recent announcement, made after a meeting with the Common Ticketing System Policy Committee on June 13, that all routes within Greater Bangkok would adhere to the new fare structure by early 2026. The minister aims to utilize this affordable ticketing policy to boost ridership on the mass transit network and ensure accessibility for all commuters.
Currently, there are eight operational lines within Greater Bangkok. Minister Suriya estimates that implementing the fare cap on all eight lines will result in approximately 8 billion baht in revenue loss, although it’s not clarified whether this amount represents a one-time or annual cost. Additionally, future transport contracts will need to stipulate that new lines adhere to the 20-baht fare limit. The initial phase of introducing the 20-baht ticket cap started last year with the Purple and Red lines, resulting in an 18% increase in ridership to nearly 21 million passengers from mid-October to the end of May.
The next stages of implementation will see the Pink and Yellow lines adopting the fare limit around June next year, followed by the Green, Gold, and Airport Rail Link lines by September 2025. Minister Suriya plans to present a draft bill on the common ticketing system to the cabinet for approval to institutionalize this pricing policy. The mass transit lines currently run by three entities—Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc, and the State Railway of Thailand—each have their own fare collection systems starting at 16 or 17 baht. To mitigate revenue losses for operators, the ministry aims to use annual ticket revenue from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and the Energy Conservation and Promotion Fund.
During the transition period, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc is permitted to increase fares until the 20-baht cap is enforced. Notably, a new fare scheme for the Blue Line, expected to raise fares from 17 to 45 baht, is due to begin on July 3 following cabinet approval.
