'Manaporn' sets the timeline for the Joint Ticket Act, expected to take effect in the middle of this year
Bangkok Business, January 31, 2025, 8:44 AM
Manaporn Charoensri, Deputy Minister of Transport, revealed that in the House of Representatives meeting on January 29, 2025, the meeting unanimously agreed to accept the principles of the draft Royal Decree (R.D.) on the Management of the Joint Ticket System B.E. .... to support public transport services, including trains, electric trains, buses, and passenger boats, allowing service users to have reduced travel costs and also increase convenience in using a single ticket for all modes of public transport services.
Regarding the framework for the implementation of the draft R.D. on the Management of the Joint Ticket System B.E. .... after this, it will enter the next stage of consideration in the House of Representatives in the 2nd and 3rd readings before being considered by the Senate, which is expected to be published in the Royal Gazette and take effect in mid-2025, while the draft subordinate law is being prepared for public hearings and is expected to be announced by September 2025, in line with the 20-baht electric train fare policy throughout the line, all colors, all routes, through the establishment of a fund to promote the joint ticket system.
'Manaporn' sets the timeline for the Joint Ticket Act, expected to take effect in the middle of this year.
The R.D. on the Management of the Joint Ticket System has 5 main principles:
1. Developing technological standards for the joint ticket system to be a central standard by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), and using it as a central standard for future joint tickets.
2. Determining joint fares by the power of the Minister of Transport to issue ministerial regulations to set joint fares, and requiring government agencies to enforce the joint fare rate in future public transport concession contracts.
3. Establishing a fund to promote the joint ticket system to support operations, development, and promotion related to the management of the joint ticket system, including lending to private operators engaged in the joint ticket business.
4. Operators who are eligible to receive support from the fund to promote the joint ticket system must be licensed under this law.
5. In case of necessity, a royal decree shall be issued to designate any public transport business as a business that must use the joint ticket system and must obtain a license under this law to maintain the provision of the joint ticket system service or for the maximum benefit in promoting the joint ticket system to prevent damage to the public.
In addition, the important content of the draft Royal Decree on the Management of the Joint Ticket System consists of 7 chapters and a transitional provision (54 sections) with the main objective of reducing expenses and facilitating the public, while turning to travel by public transport more, which is the main goal of the government.
Manaporn further said that the enactment of this Royal Decree is due to the fact that currently, passenger transport in the public transport system has many service providers, with each service provider having its own costs in preparing and managing the fare or fee collection system, which is an important factor that makes the cost of providing public transport services at a high rate, and the public service users are responsible for such costs, which in addition to being a cost and burden for the public, also causes inconvenience in using public transport services.
It is also intended to facilitate and reduce expenses for the public service users to be able to use a single ticket for traveling in all public transport systems, which supports the public to change their travel behavior from private transport to traveling by public transport.
It is also a part that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the government's goals, including being able to reduce fares, which is beneficial to the public service users, so it is appropriate to have joint management in the form of a joint ticket system by establishing a fund to promote the joint ticket system to support operations, development and promotion related to the management of the joint ticket system.
Thailand's Ministry of Transport to Invest 450 Billion Baht in Rail Projects in 2025
Thansettakij
February 2, 2025 | 05:30 AM
Thailand's Ministry of Transport has announced a budget of 450 billion baht for multi-year investment in 2025, focusing on seven double-track railway projects (Phase 2) and regional tram lines in Phuket and Chiang Mai. The ministry revealed the progress of various rail megaprojects.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, stated that the "Thailand Transport Policy for National Opportunities" workshop aims to align project implementation with government and ministry policies and accelerate progress in the 2025 fiscal year.
The Ministry of Transport has planned 223 transport projects for 2025, with a total investment of 136,492.43 million baht. This includes 107 ongoing projects worth 53,622.78 million baht and 116 new projects worth 82,869.65 million baht, covering land, water, rail, and air transportation.
Thansettakij compiled data revealing a total budget of 53,104 million baht for rail development in 2025, comprising 5,404 million baht from the national budget and 47,700 million baht from off-budget sources. This covers 69 projects, including 36 with allocated budgets and 33 new projects.
New projects with allocated budgets for 2025, totaling 459,433 million baht, include:
1. Red Line Extension (Rangsit - Thammasat University Rangsit Center): 8.84 kilometers, 6,473 million baht.
2. Red Line Extension (Siriraj - Taling Chan - Salaya): 20.5 kilometers, 15,176 million baht.
3. Light Red Line (Bang Sue - Phaya Thai - Makkasan - Hua Mak) and Missing Link (Bang Sue - Hua Lamphong): 25.9 kilometers, 44,573.85 million baht. (All three projects are scheduled to open in 2028, with the Missing Link opening in 2030.)
Double-track railway projects (Phase 2):
4. Pak Nam Pho - Den Chai: 281 kilometers, 81,143 million baht.
5. Thanon Chira Junction - Ubon Ratchathani: 308 kilometers, 44,103 million baht.
6. Chumphon - Surat Thani: 168 kilometers, 30,422 million baht.
7. Surat Thani - Hat Yai - Songkhla: 321 kilometers, 66,270 million baht.
8. Hat Yai - Padang Besar: 45 kilometers, 7,900 million baht.
9. Den Chai - Chiang Mai: 189 kilometers, 68,222 million baht.
10. Khon Kaen - Nong Khai: 167 kilometers, 28,679 million baht. (Currently under construction, with the other six projects awaiting approval. Service is expected to be rolled out gradually between 2027 and 2031.)
Regional tram lines:
11. Phuket Mass Transit System Phase 1 (Phuket International Airport - Chalong Intersection): 35,350 million baht investment. (Currently under design review, with discussions ongoing regarding project direction and implementation as per the Ministry of Transport's instructions. Expected to open in 2031.)
12. Chiang Mai Mass Transit System Red Line (Nakornping Hospital - Mae Hia Saman Samakkhi Intersection): 31,122 million baht investment. (The project is being submitted to the Road Traffic Management Committee for consideration of the appropriate operational model before proceeding. Planned to open in 2032.)
'Suriya' Reveals Free Public Transport Policy for 7 Days, Boosting Skytrain Ridership by 39.62%
Source: Naewna Website
Sunday, February 2, 2025, 16:32
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, has disclosed that the 7-day free public transport policy, implemented from January 25 to 31, 2025, has led to a 39.62% increase in skytrain ridership and a 36.81% rise in bus usage. He believes that affordable fares are a key factor encouraging people to use public transportation more frequently. Additionally, he is confident that the upcoming "20-baht flat fare for all train lines" policy will further drive passenger growth and help reduce PM2.5 pollution in Bangkok and its metropolitan area.
Significant Reduction in Private Vehicle Usage and Pollution
Suriya stated that the initiative aimed to reduce private vehicle usage and encourage people to shift to public transportation while also tackling fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution.
On January 25, 2025, the first day of the policy's implementation, PM2.5 levels in Bangkok showed a continuous decline. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) reported that between January 25 and 26, there was a decrease of 350,000 private cars on the roads, significantly lowering air pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by approximately 2,000 kilograms per day, while nitrogen emissions decreased by over 14,800 kilograms per day.
Skytrain and Bus Ridership Surge
The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) reported that from January 25 to 31, 2025, a total of 14,506,212 trips were made on the skytrain system, marking a 39.62% increase compared to 10,389,766 trips recorded during the previous week (January 18 to 24, 2025).
Similarly, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) reported that during the same 7-day period, a total of 5,007,491 passengers used the free bus service, reflecting a 36.81% increase compared to 3,660,088 passengers the week before. The BMTA continues to implement pollution reduction measures, including inspections of black smoke emissions from buses before they enter service, as well as continuous improvements to bus quality to enhance passenger comfort and convenience.
The Impact of Fare Pricing on Public Transport Usage
Suriya emphasized that the sharp increase in public transport usage demonstrates that pricing plays a crucial role in ridership behavior. He expressed confidence that the upcoming 20-baht flat fare for all train lines, set to launch in September 2025, will significantly boost passenger numbers.
Additionally, the implementation of the Common Ticketing Act will allow passengers to use a single fare card to seamlessly connect between skytrains, buses, and boats, making public transport more convenient and cost-effective. This policy is expected to lower commuting expenses for the public while further contributing to PM2.5 pollution reduction in Bangkok and its surrounding areas.
Nida Poll Reveals Severe PM 2.5 Dust in Bangkok, Government and BMA Inefficient, Free Buses and Trains Don't Help
Source - Manager Online
Sunday, February 02, 2025 12:44
Nida Poll reveals that about 3 in 4 Bangkok residents indicate the PM 2.5 dust problem is very severe, the government and BMA are inefficient, and free buses and trains do not help solve the problem.
Today (Feb 2), the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed the results of a public survey on "Bangkok, City in Dust," conducted between January 27-28, 2025, from 1,310 samples of people aged 18 and over in Bangkok, regarding the PM 2.5 dust crisis in Bangkok.
From the survey, when people living in Bangkok were asked about the severity of the PM 2.5 dust crisis in recent days, 74.43% of the sample indicated it was very severe, followed by 18.55% indicating it was quite severe, 5.88% indicating it was not very severe, and 1.14% indicating it was not severe at all.
Regarding opinions on ordering or requesting the closure of educational institutions and working from home to help solve the PM 2.5 dust crisis in Bangkok, 33.82% of the sample indicated it helped solve the problem to some extent, followed by 33.21% indicating it helped solve the problem very little, 24.50% indicating it did not help solve the problem at all, and 8.47% indicating it helped solve the problem a lot.
As for providing free bus and BTS-MRT train services for 7 days to help solve the PM 2.5 dust crisis in Bangkok, 34.89% of the sample indicated it helped solve the problem very little, followed by 33.89% indicating it did not help solve the problem at all, 24.50% indicating it helped solve the problem to some extent, and 6.72% indicating it helped solve the problem a lot.
Regarding the efficiency of relevant government agencies in solving the PM 2.5 dust problem in Bangkok, 41.15% of the sample indicated it was not very efficient, followed by 35.34% indicating it was not efficient at all, 20.38% indicating it was quite efficient, and 3.13% indicating it was very efficient.
Finally, when asked which agency people expect to solve the PM 2.5 dust problem in Bangkok, 41.15% of the sample indicated the Pollution Control Department, followed by 34.27% indicating the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, 27.02% indicating the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department, 20.23% indicating the Department of Land Transport, 17.56% indicating they had no hope for any government agency, 16.34% indicating the Ministry of Industry, 13.89% indicating the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, 12.67% indicating the Prime Minister's Office, 12.44% indicating the Ministry of Interior, 10.46% indicating the Royal Thai Police, 9.39% indicating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 8.70% indicating the Ministry of Defense, 8.47% indicating the Ministry of Commerce, and 7.79% indicating the Ministry of Finance.
20 Baht Fare Boosts Revenue Without Needing Compensation
Source - Daily News
Monday, February 10, 2025 04:37
'Red-Purple Lines' Exceed Break-Even Point, All Lines Entering Policy in 7 Months
Mr. Pichet Kunathammarak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), gave an interview to the "Daily News Transport Innovation Team" that the second year of the maximum 20 baht flat fare measure for all electric train lines for the Commuter Red Line (Red Line) during Bang Sue - Rangsit and Bang Sue - Taling Chan and the MRT Purple Line during Tao Poon - Bang Yai to reduce the cost of living for the public, in accordance with government and Ministry of Transport policies, continues to be well received by the public. This can be seen from the continuously increasing passenger volume on both lines. For the other 6 electric train lines, Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, aims to implement the measure by September 2025.
The results of the measure at the end of December 2024, the first month of the measure in its second year, compared to December 2023, show a clear increase in passenger volume for both the Red and Purple Lines by 10.86%, totaling 3,054,439 passengers, an increase from 2,755,294 passengers or an increase of 299,145 passengers. The Red Line saw 1,027,458 passengers, a 24.88% increase from 822,764 passengers, while the Purple Line had 2,026,981 passengers, a 4.89% increase from 1,932,530 passengers. The revenue for both lines also increased, with a total revenue of 49.91 million baht, a 12.28% or 5.46 million baht increase from 44.45 million baht. The Red Line's revenue was 20.4 million baht, a 25.48% or 4.07 million baht increase from 15.97 million baht, while the Purple Line's revenue was 29.87 million baht, a 4.89% or 1.39 million baht increase from 28.48 million baht.
Mr. Pichet also said that the project is considered a great success. The trend of the measure in the second year may not require compensation for the revenue difference for both lines, as it is clear from the first month that revenue has increased from what was previously received, which is faster than the expected target that the measure would need to be implemented for about 2 years and 8 months for the revenue of each line to be more than the revenue previously received. In the first year, the Red Line's revenue decreased from the original by 2.59 million baht, and the Purple Line's revenue decreased by 119.33 million baht, totaling 121.92 million baht for both lines.
The "Daily News Transport Innovation Team" reported that the maximum 20 baht flat fare measure for all electric train lines started with the Red and Purple Lines in the first year from October 16, 2023, completing the timeframe according to the Cabinet resolution approved on November 30, 2024. On November 29, 2024, the Ministry of Transport submitted to the Cabinet meeting a resolution to extend the measure for both lines for another year until November 30, 2025. Mr. Suriya has repeatedly announced and confirmed that the measure can be used for all electric train lines by September 2025. Initially, it is estimated that about 8-9 billion baht per year or about 1.6-1.8 ten billion baht over two years would be needed to support compensation for revenue differences for operators. Initially, a fund of about 300 billion baht will be set up to compensate operators for the repurchase of businesses in order to use the permanent 20 baht electric train policy, with part of the fund coming from the collection of traffic congestion fees in Bangkok, which is currently under study for details of the collection format.
Source: Daily News Newspaper, February 11, 2025 (Afternoon Edition)
"Suriya" Orders MRTA to Renegotiate Contracts for Blue, Pink, and Yellow Lines
Source - Manager Daily 360 degrees
Friday, February 14, 2025 05:07
To increase government share of profits, citing the 20 baht policy that boosts private sector revenue.
Manager Daily 360 - Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, ordered the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to renegotiate concession contracts with private operators of the Blue, Pink, and Yellow lines to increase the government's share of profits. This comes after the 20 baht flat fare policy led to increased ridership and subsequently higher revenue for the private companies. A clear plan is expected by August, to be proposed to the MRTA board before submission to the Cabinet for approval.
Suriya revealed after a meeting on the 20 baht flat fare policy that by September 2025, the policy will cover all lines. The 20 baht fare has been implemented for 1 year and 2 months on the Purple Line (Tao Poon - Khlong Bang Phai) and the Red Line (Bang Sue - Rangsit and Bang Sue - Taling Chan), resulting in a significant increase in ridership.
The increase in passengers, around 30% and up to 50% where services were offered free, has led to higher revenue for private operators. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport aims to revise the concession agreements and renegotiate profit sharing with the private sector to benefit the government.
The MRTA reported that it has prepared a plan to implement the 20 baht fare policy on lines under its supervision. The process of amending the joint venture agreements must comply with Sections 46-48 of the Public-Private Partnership Act B.E. 2562.
The Ministry of Transport and MRTA will consult the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) on how to amend contracts in cases where the private sector experiences increased revenue.
The amendment of joint venture agreements with private concessionaires has been assigned to all relevant agencies for discussion and a suitable conclusion. The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) has prepared business rules, including travel conditions, fare calculation, revenue sharing and compensation, and compensation sources.
A clear plan is expected by August, to be proposed to the MRTA board before submission to the Cabinet for approval.
After the amendment is finalized, the MRTA will negotiate with the private concessionaires to revise the concession agreements. This will then be proposed to the MRTA board for consideration, and by August 2025, it will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. Following this, the MRTA will proceed to sign the amended contracts. All processes are expected to be completed before the implementation of the 20 baht flat fare policy in September 2025.
MRTA confirms no concession extensions
Wittaya Phanmongkol, Acting Governor of the MRTA, stated that the MRTA has concession agreements for 3 projects: the Blue, Pink, and Yellow lines. These are PPP Net Cost joint venture agreements where the private sector bears the revenue risk. With the government's 20 baht flat fare policy, ridership and revenue have increased, reducing the risk for private companies. Therefore, the government should receive a larger share of the increased profits. This necessitates the renegotiation of concession agreements.
The main principle of the amendment is that there will be no extension of the contract period and the investment model will remain as PPP Net Cost. The negotiation will focus on profit sharing, where the private sector will share more of the increased profits with the state.
Current concession agreements have various clauses, such as fare rates set at 14-45 baht, adjusted every 5 years according to the consumer price index. With the 20 baht flat fare policy, this will need to be revised. Some agreements include profit sharing with the government, such as the Blue Line contract between the MRTA and BEM, where the MRTA receives a 15% share of revenue. For the Pink and Yellow Lines, the current passenger numbers have not yet reached the threshold for profit sharing with the MRTA.
However, the MRTA will only be responsible for the lines under its contracts. The Green Line project, which is under the supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), may require government intervention.
Source: Manager Daily 360 degrees Newspaper, February 14, 2025
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