Thailand aims to launch its common-ticket policy for electric rail services in Bangkok and surrounding provinces starting next year, with fares capped at 45 baht (US$1.36) per trip to simplify the mass transport system.
There will also be initial charge of no more than 17 baht, which will not be re-applied should passengers transfer to another line, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said a recent government meeting, as reported by The National Thailand.
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A BTS SkyTrain in Bangkok. Photo by Unsplash/ThaimaaOpas |
Legal and administrative processes are due to be completed by November 2026. System testing is expected to begin in December, ahead of the common-ticket measure taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
The new price range is part of an initiative of the government to simplify Bangkok’s fragmented urban rail network where passengers must navigate separate ticketing systems, fare structures and payment methods when transferring between lines, according to Bloomberg.
Current SkyTrain fares can go up to 65 baht, depending on routes, according to the Bangkok Mass Transit System’s website.
The BTS SkyTrain began operations in December 1999 as Bangkok’s first mass-transit rail system. Its original core network has since been upgraded substantially to around 68 kilometers of lines and 60 stations.
Last year it recorded 205.4 million trips, up 5.6% from 2024.