Blue, Purple Lines begin accepting state welfare cards

Blue, Purple Lines begin accepting state welfare cards

Surapan Laotharanarit

BANGKOK, 20 July 2018 (NNT) – Holders of state welfare cards in Bangkok and its vicinity can now use their cards to purchase tickets for the Blue and Purple Line electric train systems. 

At Chatuchak MRT Station, Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpitayapaisith launched the pilot project in which low-income earners can use their state welfare cards with the MRT Blue Line between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue Stations as well as the MRT Purple Line between Bang Sue and Bang Yai Stations. 

According to current plans, the state welfare card will eventually be usable on all public transportation systems, similar to the Spider Card. However, the cardholder is required to first upgrade the card into the dual-chip version, and they must be a resident of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon or Nakhon Pathom in order to be eligible for the upgrade. Each month, 500 baht will be credited to the card by the government for use on public transport. 

Since the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand opened the registration for the dual-chip card on July 6, about 10,000 people have applied for the card. Registration services will continue to be available at all stations on the Blue and Purple Lines from now until September 30, between 11 am and 8 pm daily. 

Following the pilot project, the state welfare card is expected to be accepted on public buses of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) in October this year and on the Airport Rail Link in November.

 

-- nnt 2018-07-21