A proposed new ticketing system in Bangkok, designed to consolidate fares for various forms of public transport, may lead to lower prices for commuters. The Common Ticketing System Management Bill, which is currently under review by the House special committee, aims to streamline ticketing processes, improve convenience, and reduce costs for passengers.
At a recent public forum organized by the Thailand Consumers Council, experts discussed the details of the bill and its potential impact on the city’s transport system. The bill’s main objectives are to eliminate overlapping administrative efforts by different agencies overseeing public transport services and to ensure a fair and transparent pricing structure, according to Jiraroth Sukolrat, deputy director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning.
The opposition People’s Party (PP) has put forward an alternative version of the bill, which emphasizes clarity on the pricing of tickets once all services are integrated into a single system. Surachet Pravinvongvuth, a PP list-MP, expressed concerns that the government’s version of the bill does not provide enough specifics on fare structures when the new system is implemented. In addition, the PP’s proposal calls for the system to cover all types of public transport, including buses and boats, not just Bangkok’s electric train services. “Public transport means all types of services, not just electric rail,” Surachet said.
The ruling Pheu Thai party, represented by Krichanont Iyapunya, an assistant to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, is determined to reduce the cost of commuting to 10% of the daily minimum wage. The government aims to cap fares on all electric rail services at 20 baht per trip by September. A proposal is also under consideration to reduce the maximum cost of bus fares to 10 baht per trip.
Krichanont assured that no additional government funds would be required to implement these price cuts, as the State Railway of Thailand Fund, supported by taxes collected in Bangkok, has sufficient resources for the next two years. The fund is expected to be able to finance the low-cost services without additional financial support, particularly as ridership increases. The government anticipates that the pilot phase of the 20-baht electric train fare on the Red and Purple Lines will break even within two years.
The discussions on the bill reflect ongoing efforts to make public transportation in Bangkok more affordable and accessible for commuters, while also simplifying the administrative structure that governs these services.
