The Government of Thailand is moving forward with plans to buy back concessions for all electric train lines in Bangkok by 2026 to reduce fares and improve public access. The goal is to enforce a flat THB20 fare across all mass transit lines, expanding from its current application on the Red and Purple lines.
The Ministry of Transport aims to implement the fare cap by September 2025 and is working with the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) to evaluate financing and acquisition strategies. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is chairing the committee responsible for overseeing the process.
Sepo Director-General Tibordee Wattanakul said the government is considering full state ownership post-buyback to streamline operations, while still allowing private firms to bid for train operations. The cost of repurchasing concessions—particularly for lines like the Green Line, which expire in 2029—is estimated at THB200 billion. Funding will likely come from an infrastructure fund similar to the Thailand Future Fund, which uses public investment units to support state infrastructure projects.