Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is preparing to seek Cabinet approval for a new integrated fare structure of THB17–45 per trip across Bangkok’s electric rail network as part of a broader plan to place all urban rail lines under the management of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The proposal is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet, and forms part of the government’s efforts to establish a unified rail management and ticketing system.
The proposal is based on a Single Ownership model that would consolidate management of all metro and suburban rail lines, including the Green Line, Gold Line and State Railway of Thailand’s Red Line, under MRTA oversight. The ministry also plans to replace the previous proposal for a THB20 flat-fare scheme with the new distance-based fare range of THB17–45. In addition, responsibility for operating the Common Clearing House (CCH), the central revenue allocation platform supporting integrated ticketing, would be transferred from the Digital Government Development Agency to a financial institution with existing payment infrastructure capabilities.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the proposed fare structure has been assessed by the Department of Rail Transport and is expected to require approximately THB4 billion in annual government support to compensate operators for reduced fare revenues. Funding would be sourced from the common ticketing fund and accumulated MRTA revenues, currently estimated at THB6–8 billion. If approved, negotiations will be undertaken with rail concessionaires to revise fare collection and revenue-sharing arrangements, with full implementation targeted for 2027.