Cabinet OKs six-month extension of free city’s bus and train services

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit said Tuesday that the extension of the free bus and train services would cost the state 2,268 million baht which are divided into 1,783 million baht for 800 buses operating on 73 routes and 585 million baht nor 152 third-class trains on daily basis.

 

The Finance Ministry will refund the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority for the free bus service and the State Railway of Thailand for the free third-class train service.

 

Mr Arkhom said the extension of the bus and train services was intended to ease the financial burden of low income-earners.

 

Regarding the single ticket for services of different routes, the transport minister said that the new ticket system was expected to be introduced next June for BTS, MRT and Airport Link train services.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cabinet-oks-six-month-extension-of-free-citys-bus-and-train-services/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-11-09

Another populist policy. Yet they could achieve much the same result by simply reducing the fares; better yet, subsidise a stored ticket system.