PUBLISHED : 23 Dec 2023 at 04:00
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is expected to begin charging passengers of the Green Line’s second extension a flat rate of 15 baht per trip on Jan 2, said Bangkok deputy governor Visanu Samsompol on Friday.
He said the announcement of the fare for travelling on the Bearing-Samut Prakan and Mo Chit-Saphan Mai-Khu Khot sections has been drafted pending Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s signature.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the Department of Rail Transport and the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) have no objection to the fare, he said.
He said Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), which is hired to operate the Bearing-Samut Prakan and Mo Chit-Saphan Mai-Khu Khot sections, has a fare collection system in place, ready for implementation.
The fare along the entire Green Line will be capped at 62 baht per trip after the new fare takes effect.
Based on 250,000 passengers using the route per day, it is estimated that the BMA will be able to collect between 3-4 million baht more.
BTSC, which is also contracted to operate the 34.5-kilometre Pink Line, is ready to begin charging passengers using the monorail linking Khae Rai in Nonthaburi with Min Buri district in East Bangkok via Ram Intra Road.
Currently, the monorail is available free of charge during its trial run with the fare collection to start on Jan 3. The Pink Line connects with the BTS Green Line at Wat Phra Si Mahatat Station.
A source at the Transport Ministry said the Department of Rail Transport has agreed the fare for the Green Line’s second extension and waiver of an entry fee for passengers transferring from any of the MRT’s electric rail systems.
The department has also asked the BMA to upgrade its system to accommodate the EMV contactless payment already adopted by the MRTA and State Railway of Thailand.