Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit offered his assurance today (Wednesday) that the 20-baht train fare for all mass transit systems in greater Bangkok will be implemented, but it may take about two years, as the government will have to negotiate with all the system operators.
Suriya said that the government is committed to a 20-baht flat-rate train fare as an urgent policy, but it cannot be implemented immediately, because several operators are involved, each with separate concession contracts.
For example, he cited the need for a common ticketing system, enabling commuters to travel on the different train systems operated by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority and the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company, or BTSC.
Suriya said that the 20-baht train fare for all the mass transit systems will not be mentioned specifically in the government’s policy statement, to be delivered to parliament by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Monday, but it is part of the government’s logistics policy, which he is ready to explain to parliament.
