For the first time, the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company (BTSC), operator of the Green Line sky train service, is expected to charge passengers for the use of the two extensions, between Mor Chit and Khu Khot and between Bearing and Kheha, in late December or January, said an informed source in the Transport Ministry.
The two extensions have been open to the public for a couple of years now, but BTSC has been unable to charge fares due to a legal technicality, as the Khu Khot station in Pathum Thani province and Kheha station in Samut Prakan are beyond the jurisdiction of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the owner of the two extensions.
It is reported that the fare for the two extensions is expected to be Bt15, which would mean that the fare for the entire Green Line route will not exceed 62 baht.
Once the new fares are settled between BTSC and the city administration, the public will be informed in advance of their implementation, said the source.
According to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote, the BMA has accumulated more than 50 billion baht in debt owed to BTSC, including 23 billion baht for the installation of electrical systems and machinery and 30 billion baht for operations.
About 900,000 people are using the Green Line sky train service each day, still lower than the one million passengers pre-COVID.
The deputy transport minister checked the readiness of the Pink Line train service between Khae Rai and Min Buri today, which is expected to open for trial runs at the end of this month. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will officiate the launch of the trial runs.
The Pink Line will connect with the Purple Line, at the Nonthaburi government complex station, with the Red Line, at the Lak Si train station, and with the Green Line at Phra Sri Mahathat station.
Surapong said that the fare on the Pink Line will be 20 baht maximum within two years.
It is anticipated that, in the initial stage, about 100,000 passengers will use the Pink Line each day, which is expected to double within two years.
