Bangkok’s Ministry of Transport is moving forward with a plan to cap fares for all eight electric train lines at a maximum of 20 baht per ride, with the policy scheduled to take effect on 30 September 2025. The initiative aims to alleviate the cost of living for commuters and boost public transport usage across the capital.
The second phase of the flat-fare policy has already been submitted to the Cabinet for consideration, and officials are working to ensure its inclusion in the upcoming Cabinet agenda. The move is in line with the government’s broader strategy to enhance urban mobility while reducing financial strain on residents.
Data from the first phase of the policy shows significant growth in passenger numbers, particularly on the Red and Purple Lines. From 1 October 2024 to 31 May 2025, ridership on the Red Line, which runs from Bang Sue to Rangsit and Bang Sue to Taling Chan, increased by 26.93 percent compared to the previous year, reaching an average of 34,652 daily passengers. Compared to the period before the fare reduction, passenger numbers jumped by 79.22 percent.
Similarly, the Purple Line, connecting Tao Poon to Bang Yai, saw a 5.1 percent rise in average daily passengers to 66,533. This represents an 18.37 percent increase over figures prior to the fare policy. Combined, the Red and Purple Lines reported a daily average of 101,185 passengers, up 11.68 percent from the previous year and 33.94 percent higher than before the fare reduction.
Revenue trends have shown mixed results. The Red Line’s average daily fare revenue climbed to 650,000 baht, an 18.18 percent increase year-on-year. In contrast, the Purple Line’s revenue saw a modest rise to 990,000 baht per day, but remained 24.43 percent below pre-policy levels. When combined, the two lines earned 1.64 million baht daily, representing a 9.33 percent year-on-year increase but still trailing earlier figures.
To offset reduced fare income, the government has set aside compensation funds, estimating a total of 400 million baht for the current period ending 30 November 2025. Preliminary calculations suggest the Red Line may close the year with higher-than-expected revenue, while the Purple Line could incur losses around 57.6 million baht—still below initial projections.
Despite this, officials have not provided a clear timeline for achieving financial self-sufficiency on these lines. Analysts suggest that as ridership continues to rise, the need for state compensation could diminish, with broader social and economic benefits such as lower pollution, eased traffic congestion, and reduced living costs.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Transport anticipates that expanding the 20-baht flat fare across all eight train lines could require up to 8 billion baht annually in subsidies. The plan, which will draw on accumulated revenues from the Blue Line, is projected to increase daily ridership from the current 1.6 million to approximately 2 million passengers.
The policy’s future will depend on Cabinet approval and continued evaluation of its economic impact. Senior transport officials and government representatives have expressed confidence in the strategy’s long-term value but remain cautious about declaring a break-even point.