MRTA to issue measure to reduce fares to attract passengers

[webfact]

MRTA to issue measure to reduce fares to attract passengers

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - Mr. Phakhaphong Sirikantharamas, Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand or MRTA, disclosed ways to reduce the burden of traveling expenses for the public and encourage people to use the public transport system instead of personal cars to help solve the traffic congestion problem in Bangkok and its vicinity.

 

According to the policy of Transport Minister Saksiam Chitchorp, the MRTA will come up with ways to reduce fares for people who use the MRT Blue Line and Purple Line by organizing a promotion which offers a discount of about 33 percent for single journey tickets.

 

For people who buy a ticket for 15 trips, the highest average fare of 15 trips is 52 baht from the maximum fare of 70 baht. The maximum fare for 25 trips is 50 baht.

 

The maximum fare for 40 trips is 48 baht and the maximum fare for 50 trips is 47 baht. For passengers who use the Purple Line from Tao Poon - Bang Yai outside rush hours, the initial fare is 14 baht and the maximum fare is 20 baht.

 

The measure will be submitted to the meeting of the MRTA Board of Directors immediately after the appointment of a new board. It is expected to come into effect at the end of this year.

 

The MRTA Governor disclosed that there are currently about 400,000 passengers using the Blue Line service from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong per day.

 

As for the passengers using the Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae extension section, after opening for service from 29 July onwards, there are approximately 100,000 passengers using the service per day.

 

For the MRT Blue Line extension from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae which offers free rides from July, 2019, there are about 100,000 passengers using the service per day.

 

For the MRT purple line, there are about 70,000 passengers per day. However, it is expected that when the MRT Blue Line extension from Tao Poon to Tha Phra is opened in early 2020 after passengers’ travel behavior has been adjusted, there will be approximately 800,000 passengers using the electric train system per day at the end of 2020.

 

The MRT will have additional 20 trains and there will be 35 new trains by March 2020. The MRTA will have a total of 54 trains in service.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2019-10-01

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[Bangkok Barry]

If people are not using the train because the fare is too high, then they are unlikely to have the money to buy 25, 40 and 50 ride tickets either. Did they actually think this through? Silly question in Thailand, I know.

[Searat7]

Have they added any cars to the Blue Line ? The last time I checked they are still operating only the original equipment from 2004

[Ketyo]

Will there be enough space inside the cars for more people?

[Number 6]

Mass transit poorly designed. They need trains every 4 minutes during rush hours. Eight mins otherwise. Standing in the lines... people jumping queue on MRT. The heat on BTS. BTS so inconsistent. Three trains arrive one direction... you're still waiting. Rush hour is bedlam. It doesn't need more (esp working class) Thais shuffling around fixated on Facebook, YouTube and games.

 

Please raise the fare. I will pay 25% more. Give me a premium bogey away from the plebs.

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by Number 6