Thailand is progressing with establishing a financial fund to buy back all concessions of rapid transit, which will allow the government to set a lower ticket price for more accessibility of users.
Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transportation of Thailand, revealed that the ministry is in the process of proposing to the cabinet an extension to a THB 20 one-way ticket scheme that will expire on Nov. 20 on two lines, including the Red Line (Taling Chan-Bang Sue-Rangsit) and the Purple Line (Tao Poon-Khlong Bang Phai). The proposal was well received by the public.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport is also drafting the Common Ticket Act, which is currently under review by the Council of State before proposing to the parliament during the opening session of Dec.24
If the Common Ticket Act passes and is in effect, the ministry will establish the common ticket fund to support policies such as revenue share for the Metro Blue line, energy conservation fund, and other budgets. The ministry also promised that the THB 20 ticket policy will apply to all lines and stations within September 2025, as previously announced.
Additionally, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance will jointly establish the Infrastructure Fund to buy back all Skytrain-metro concessions, with approximately THB 200 Billion of funding from investors. The Fund will be used to buy back all Skytrain-metro concessions to allow the state to lower the ticket price and increase accessibility. At the same time, the ministries will explore the idea of a congestion charge for the funding and may consider using some of the charges to compensate investors. The charge will be implemented in Bangkok areas along the train lines like Sukhumvit Rd., Silom Rd., and Ratchadaphisek Rd., the charge will be collected using the same method that has proven successful in other countries such as England, further detail may reveal by the middle of 2025.
The congestion charges are speculated to be THB 40-50 in the first five years and will gradually increase every five years according to the situation at the time. The charge is expected to be collected daily from around 700,000 cars earning around THB 35 million per day or THB 12 billion per year. The money will be part of the buyback fund as well.
Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance revealed that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance to jointly study the THB 20 all-line policy, as it is the government policy proposed to the parliament to decrease transportation spending for Thai citizen, reduce the use of personal car, and protect the environment. The goal of the study is to find the most financially efficient way to implement the policy and the funds for the policy itself.
