According to the transport minister, less expensive rides are drawing more bridge passengers, helping to mitigate losses.
4 January 2024 at 19:07PUBLISHED
The state has defended its decision to cap energy train tickets at 20 per excursion, which is currently in place on the Red and Purple Lines, claiming that as passenger numbers rise, revenue from the two lines is rising.
Hence, it is anticipated that the two bridge lines will soon begin to generate revenue, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on Thursday.
During the House budget conversation, MPs questioned him about the viability of the low-cost flights, and he was responding to those questions.
According to Mr. Suriya, the two bridge outlines were losing about 6.9 million baht per day prior to the introduction of the 20 bass flat-rate fare. Nevertheless, he claimed that due to a significant increase in travellers, both lines have started earning more money in less than three months since the program’s launch.
The start of a new air-conditioned feed bus service to enhance passenger transfers, he said, will help the lines begin to make money in the upcoming six months.
MP Jurin Laksanawisit of the Democratic Party asked how the government would make up for users ‘ costs, which were estimated to be 7.4 million baht per day.
He asserted that the state should not be using taxpayer funds to finance the program while arguing that it lowers women’s living expenses.
Mr. Jurin also questioned how, contrary to what the government had claimed, the plan may be expanded to include all current energy rail systems.
The State Railway of Thailand, which now owes more than 200 billion ringgit, runs the Red Line. The Purple Line is run by SET-listed Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc and is owned by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand ( MRTA ).
The 60-station Green Line, run by Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, has charges ranging from 16 to 59 ringgit, while the MRT Blue Line’s prices are in the selection of 16 and 43. In the money, they are the two bridge traces that are used the most.
According to Mr. Suriya, the government has been given the go-ahead to submit a bill that would establish funding for all other services providers ‘ tickets.
He claimed that if the law was approved, the 20-baht plan could be made available to everyone.
However, in the 2024 resources bill, the government has no included a budget for the program. According to Mr. Suriya, this is because the government is certain that the income from the MRTA and the SRT will rise over the next few weeks, making it enough to make up for their losses.