Transport Pink Line Sees 68% Drop in Ridership on First Day of Paid Service

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

The introduction of fares on the extended Pink Line in Nonthaburi led to a sharp 68% drop in passenger numbers, as reported by the Department of Rail Transport.

 

On Tuesday, marking the beginning of commercial service after a free test period, the Muang Thong Thani extension saw a notable decline. From 217,621 riders during the test run (May 20 to June 16), numbers fell dramatically on the first day of fare collection.

 

The free period averaged 7,772 passengers daily, with weekdays seeing 6,719 and weekends 9,668. The peak was on May 31, with 23,159 users, while June 3 had the least at 1,650. The THAIFEX-ANUGA Asia 2025 event (May 27-31) boosted daily averages to 16,669.

 

However, with fares starting on June 17, only 2,168 riders used the extension, showcasing a 68% downturn. Despite this, the system-wide Pink Line ridership saw a modest 3.6% decrease, from 75,678 to 72,976 daily users.

 

The significant drop on the new extended line raises questions about fare pricing and accessibility, as authorities assess commuter behaviour and potential adjustments to encourage use.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-06-20

 

 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The introduction of fares on the extended Pink Line in Nonthaburi led to a sharp 68% drop in passenger numbers, as reported by the Department of Rail Transport.

People do like the freebies...

[radiochaser]

If it was free to ride the Pink line, why was I charged on my prepaid card when I exited the turnstile?   That was back in Feb & Mar of this year. 

 

 

[Purdey]

It would be nice if they had mentioned whether the paying customers equalled the number they had targeted.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

7 hours ago, radiochaser said:

If it was free to ride the Pink line, why was I charged on my prepaid card when I exited the turnstile?   That was back in Feb & Mar of this year. 

 

Quote

introduction of fares on the extended Pink Line in Nonthaburi

 

It sounds like the end of free rides was just on the section at the one end of the line ending in Nonthaburi...

 

My wife too had been paying for regular rides on the other section of the line toward the Lad Phrao area... no freebies there lately.

 

 

[josephbloggs]

7 hours ago, radiochaser said:

If it was free to ride the Pink line, why was I charged on my prepaid card when I exited the turnstile?   That was back in Feb & Mar of this year. 

 

 

The free trial was only on the newly opened "spur line" extension from Muang Tong Thani to Lake Muang Thong Thani. It is a little two stop line. The rest of the pink line has been fully open and charging fares since December 2023.

 

 

[novacova]

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The introduction of fares on the extended Pink Line in Nonthaburi led to a sharp 68% drop in passenger numbers, as reported by the Department of Rail Transport.

So that’s a 32% increase of revenue. Sounds good.

[KhaoHom]

Public transport is for the good of a nation. It's imo a perfect example of public money well spent. It reduces traffic and all the problems that come with it, cuts emissions, moves poor around long distances quickly, economically..

 

I've taken it a few times to CW during peak am. It was full but not FULL.

 

Maybe it should have been placed in a better location?

 

Even the Blue Line can be empty doing reverse commute peak hours or all directions off peak. What were they hoping for? It's the boondocks ffs!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

21 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

The free trial was only on the newly opened "spur line" extension from Muang Tong Thani to Lake Muang Thong Thani. It is a little two stop line. The rest of the pink line has been fully open and charging fares since December 2023.

 

 

 

 

OP report could have done a considerably better job in making those facts clear.....  😞

 

[billd766]

19 minutes ago, novacova said:

So that’s a 32% increase of revenue. Sounds good.

Minus of course the cost of the extra train cars and the running costs on the new section of the Pink line.

 

Did you forget that bit?

 

Paid for by the majority of Thai taxpayers who cannot actually use the Pink line, as they do not live in Bangkok.

[0ffshore360]

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

 

OP report could have done a considerably better job in making those facts clear.....  😞

 

Why damage the false drama draw card?

 

[0ffshore360]

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

Minus of course the cost of the extra train cars and the running costs on the new section of the Pink line.

 

Did you forget that bit?

 

Paid for by the majority of Thai taxpayers who cannot actually use the Pink line, as they do not live in Bangkok.

Conversely those that use the new Pink Line extension probably never use other tax payer funded infrastructure either and also paid via taxes . 

[radiochaser]

On 6/21/2025 at 5:14 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

 

It sounds like the end of free rides was just on the section at the one end of the line ending in Nonthaburi...

 

My wife too had been paying for regular rides on the other section of the line toward the Lad Phrao area... no freebies there lately.

 

 

OK, the first time I rode it was in Nonthaburi.   I went to a home pro in Nonthaburi and discovered that the pink line had a station there.  I rode it to Civic Center station, exited there, walked to the blue line Civic Center station.   If I recall correctly, I was charged on my card when I exited the pink line station.  

 

Oh well.   At least I had a cheaper trip back to the condo than if I had taken a taxi from Home Pro. 

[radiochaser]

On 6/21/2025 at 5:41 AM, josephbloggs said:

The free trial was only on the newly opened "spur line" extension from Muang Tong Thani to Lake Muang Thong Thani. It is a little two stop line. The rest of the pink line has been fully open and charging fares since December 2023.

 

 

OK, as I responded to TallGuyJohn, I got on the Pink line by a Home Pro in Nonthaburi.    I don't remember what station that was.  

[lordgrinz]

They would have done better to make an elevated tram around the Impact center area, thus encouraging local usage, those two stops aren't all that convenient. They basically prioritize  the IMPACT arena, not the locals. The IMPACT Arena owners seem to care very little about locals in general, they seem to do nothing but create more traffic, in what supposed to be a housing estate (Muang Thong Thani). I live here, and I find myself increasingly at odds with whoever the morons are who are running this area, or should I say those who are collecting their brown envelopes while screwing the locals.