"Suriya" to Chair First Meeting of the Land Traffic Management Committee in Almost 3 Years on December 23rd; Red Line Train Plan Adjusted to "Wongwian Yai" with New Links to Yellow Line and Airport Rail Link
Manager Online, December 4, 2024, 09:08
**KEY POINTS**
* The Land Traffic Management Committee (LTMC) will hold its first meeting in almost 3 years.
* Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit will chair the meeting.
* There are 11 issues awaiting consideration.
* The Red Line electric train plan will be adjusted, running only from Wongwian Yai to Mahachai.
* There are plans to build a Sky Walk connecting the Yellow Line and ARL at Hua Mak, and the Pink Line and Red Line at Lak Si.
* Bangkok will transfer the Gray Line and Silver Line electric train projects to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).
**LTMC to Meet for the First Time in Almost 3 Years on December 23rd, 2024; "Suriya" to Chair; 11 Issues Awaiting Consideration; Red Line Train Plan Adjusted to "Wongwian Yai-Mahachai"; New Walkways to Connect Yellow Line and ARL at Hua Mak, and Pink Line and Red Line at Lak Si to Facilitate Passengers; Bangkok to Transfer Gray and Silver Lines to MRTA**
According to a report from the Ministry of Transport, the Land Traffic Management Committee (LTMC), chaired by Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, will hold its first meeting of 2024 on December 23rd, 2024 at Government House. This marks the first meeting under the government led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The LTMC has not met for almost 3 years, with the last meeting taking place on February 24th, 2025, chaired by General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister, during the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The meeting agenda includes 8 items for acknowledgement and 11 items for consideration. Key issues include:
* **Adjusting the Red Line commuter train project:** The original plan was to run from Hua Lamphong-Wongwian Yai-Mahachai. This will be changed to Wongwian Yai-Mahachai, cutting the Hua Lamphong-Wongwian Yai section due to issues with dense communities in the area, changing economic conditions and land use, and the high cost of land expropriation and property acquisition. The bridge over the Chao Phraya River has also not yet passed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
* **Connecting the Red Line to other lines:** The adjusted Red Line (Wongwian Yai-Mahachai) will be connected to other lines for convenience, including the Purple Line South (Tao Poon-Rat Burana) at Wongwian Yai station, the Green Line (Silom Line), and the Blue Line MRT via the Purple Line South at Tha Phra station.
* **Revised study and budget:** The original study for the Red Line Wongwian Yai-Mahachai section estimated a distance of 33.16 kilometers and a cost of approximately 48.129 billion baht. After the LTMC approves the changes, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will review the feasibility study, detailed design, and budget.
**MRTA Proposes Skywalk and Walkways Connecting Yellow Line and ARL, and Pink Line and Red Line**
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will propose the construction of connecting walkways at interchange stations:
* **Hua Mak Station:** A 51-meter Skywalk and a 150-meter covered ground-level walkway will connect the Yellow Line (Lat Phrao-Samrong) with the Airport Rail Link and the SRT long-distance railway.
* **Lak Si Station:** A 57-meter covered ground-level walkway will connect the Pink Line (Khae Rai-Min Buri) with the Red Line commuter train. The total budget for these walkways is 58.74 million baht.
**Transfer of Gray and Silver Lines to MRTA**
The MRTA will also request approval to transfer responsibility for the following new electric train projects from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) back to the Ministry of Transport:
* Silver Line: Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi Airport
* Gray Line Phase 1: Watcharapol-Thonglor
Finally, the meeting will consider the results of a comparative study on the most suitable options for implementing mass transit projects in Chiang Mai (Red Line: Nakornping Hospital-Mae Hia Saman Samakkhi intersection, 12.54 kilometers) and Nakhon Ratchasima (Green Line).
"Revenue Loss Rate" of the 20 Baht Flat Fare Policy for Electric Trains Nears 300 Million Baht in One Year
By Pranee Muanpangwaree : Economic Scene :pranee_mue@nationgroup.com
Krungthep Turakij 08 Dec. 2024 at 7:19 PM.
"Travel expenses" are a significant cost for people, especially working-age individuals. If the government can reduce travel costs for the public, it will increase people's capabilities both in terms of purchasing power from the remaining money after travel expenses decrease.
Recently, the Cabinet meeting approved the 20 baht maximum fare measure across the entire line, in accordance with government policy, for the Red Line suburban train, Nakhon Withi Line (Krung Thep Aphiwat - Taling Chan) and Thani Ratthaya Line (Krung Thep Aphiwat - Rangsit) of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), and the Chalong Ratchadham Line (Purple Line) of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), as proposed by the Ministry of Transport.
"The maximum fare measure of 20 baht for both electric train lines has been implemented since October 2023. Originally ending on November 30, 2024, the Cabinet meeting deemed it appropriate to extend the measure from December 1, 2024, until November 30, 2025. The SRT is to request the allocation of a budget to compensate for the actual loss of revenue from the fare difference, according to the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act 2018."
However, the results of implementing the measure compared to the actual revenue loss show that in the case of the Red Line suburban train, the lost fare revenue is an estimate. The fare revenue in the case of collecting a maximum fare of no more than 20 baht would be 239.47 million baht, minus the revenue collected during the implementation of the measure between October 2023 and September 2024, amounting to 210.56 million baht, meaning a loss of 28.91 million baht in revenue.
In the case of the Purple Line, the lost fare revenue is calculated by taking the fare revenue in the case of collecting the actual maximum rate of 42 baht between October 2023 and September 2024, which should have been 588.27 million baht, minus the revenue collected during the implementation of the measure between October 2023 and September 2024, which was actually 336.12 million baht. This equates to a revenue loss of 252.15 million baht.
Meanwhile, the estimated loss of revenue in the case of extending the policy from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, the Ministry of Transport has prepared information according to Section 27 of the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act 2018 for the Cabinet's consideration. It is estimated that budget support will need to be requested for the SRT, and there will be a loss of revenue for the MRTA.
For the Red Line suburban train, the estimated cost or revenue loss is 35.35 million baht. The source of funds to compensate for the fare, the SRT will propose to request budget allocation.
For the Purple Line, the estimated cost or revenue loss is 272.99 million baht. The source of funds to compensate for the fare, the MRTA will use the revenue that must be sent to the treasury to compensate.
The Ministry of Transport will evaluate the results of the measure at the end of the fiscal year, considering various relevant factors, such as passenger volume and revenue, which will affect the burden of compensation from the government sector, and taking into account the convenience of travel and helping to reduce the burden of travel expenses for the public.
"In the case of the Purple Line, the total fare revenue is 336.13 million baht. However, compared to the case of collecting fares at the normal rate (14 - 42 baht), with an increase in passengers from the implementation of the measure, it is expected that approximately 588.27 million baht in revenue would be collected. Therefore, there is a total revenue loss of 252.15 million baht. But when considering the value of the benefits received in economic, social, and environmental aspects, the implementation of the measure in the past has helped create a net value of benefits received in economic, social, and environmental aspects of 937.59 million baht, which is more than the lost fare revenue."
For the long-term work plan, the government will have to expedite work to be in accordance with the government's policy statement to the National Assembly on September 12, 2024. The government will invest in large-scale transportation infrastructure (Mega Projects) seamlessly across rail, water, road, and air, promoting road safety and reducing logistics costs.
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, expects that the policy of a single price for all electric train lines across the entire line, or a 20 baht flat fare for all electric train lines, will be able to proceed as planned by September 2025. This is because the draft Act on the Management of the Common Ticket System B.E. ... must be prepared to establish a common ticket fund, find sources of funds to compensate for the reduced electric train fares for private concessionaires. Therefore, it is necessary to wait for the Comptroller General's Department, Ministry of Finance, to consider the relevant conditions.
The Ministry expects to be able to propose the draft Common Ticket Act for the Cabinet's consideration on December 3, 2024, before pushing it forward according to the steps and having it come into force as planned in September 2025.
Within the draft Act on the Management of the Common Ticket System B.E. ..., details about the Common Ticket Promotion Fund will be specified in Sections 29 and 30, divided as follows: Section 29 stipulates the establishment of a fund in the office called the "Common Ticket Promotion Fund," with the objective of supporting the operation, development, and promotion of the common ticket system management, including the following objectives:
1. To promote and subsidize the public who use the common ticket system to be able to use public transportation conveniently with reasonable travel costs.
2. To support the operation of the common ticket system of licensees affected by participating in the common ticket system.
3. To allow licensees to borrow for investment, improvement, and development of common ticket system services.
The sources of funds for the fund are specified in Section 30. The fund consists of money and assets as follows:
1. Initial capital allocated by the government.
2. Subsidies allocated by the government.
3. License issuance fees.
4. Money received according to Section 31, concerning licensees submitting money to the fund.
5. Money received from transportation service providers when there is a concession contract, joint venture contract, or joint investment contract, as the case may be, with a clause that the transportation service provider must submit money to the fund.
6. Administrative fines according to Section 40.
7. Money or assets donated to the fund.
8. Interest and returns on money or assets of the fund.
The subsidy according to item 2, the Minister shall proceed to request budget allocation to contribute to the fund in each fiscal year as needed. The money and assets of the fund according to paragraph one do not have to be submitted to the treasury as state revenue.
## One Year Review: Transport Ministry Under Pheu Thai and its Flagship Policies
**Source - Bangkok Biz News Online**
**Tuesday, December 10, 2024 11:06**
This article reviews the performance of the Transport Ministry over the past year, highlighting the flagship policy of "20 Baht flat fare for all electric train lines." This policy has successfully reduced living costs and encouraged greater use of public transport. The cabinet is also considering extending this policy for another year. Meanwhile, the focus for 2025 is on the bidding process for the "Land Bridge" megaproject.
On December 12th, Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra will announce the government's performance, outlining its framework and flagship projects for 2025 under the theme "2025: Thailand's Opportunities, Achievable Goals." The Transport Ministry, under the leadership of three Pheu Thai ministers, is also approaching its one-year mark. This review reveals concrete achievements in line with announced policies, alongside some projects that have missed their targets and remain pending for 2025.
The Transport Ministry, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, has focused on reducing living costs by making public transport accessible to all, and accelerating rail network development to lower travel and logistics costs.
In 2024, the ministry achieved tangible results with its "20 Baht flat fare for all electric train lines" policy. This initiative began connecting the Red Line suburban train (Nakhorn Withi Line: Krung Thep Aphiwat - Taling Chan and Thani Ratthaya Line: Krung Thep Aphiwat - Rangsit) with the Purple Line (Chalong Ratchadham Line) in late 2023 and throughout 2024.
The impact of this policy has been significant. Since its launch on October 16, 2023, revenue loss has been lower than anticipated. Comparing data from the end of September 2024 with the same period in 2023 shows:
* **Red Line suburban train:** Revenue decreased by 2.59 million baht after the policy was implemented (from an initial 203.47 million baht).
* **Purple Line:** Revenue decreased by 119.33 million baht after the policy was implemented (from an initial 455.46 million baht).
However, average passenger numbers on both lines have increased significantly since October 16, 2023. The Red Line saw a 51.86% increase in passengers, while the Purple Line saw a 17.54% increase. This policy is considered a major success for the Transport Ministry, effectively encouraging a shift towards public transport.
At the recent mobile cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai on November 29th, the Transport Ministry proposed extending the 20 baht fare cap for another year, from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025. This is expected to further promote public transport use.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry aims to expand the 20 baht fare policy to all electric train lines. This will involve drafting the "Integrated Ticket Management Act" to establish a fund for subsidizing fare reductions for private operators. The goal is to implement this by September 2025.
In terms of megaprojects, the past year has seen bidding for two projects:
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