Bangkok commuters want a 20-baht flat rate for metro rides, but current fares range from 12 to 47 baht. Efforts are underway, but disputes and financial costs remain.
Bangkok Metro Fares Still Face Obstacles
Bangkok commuters’ dream of paying no more than 20 baht for a metro ride regardless of distance traveled is still far from reality. The ruling Pheu Thai Party’s efforts have not resulted in significant progress, with fares currently starting at 12 baht and going as high as 47 baht per ride, and this amount increases if commuters use more than one metro line per trip.
Current Fares and Challenges & Efforts
Currently, there are 12 city lines in Greater Bangkok, covering a total of 242.34 kilometers. Each line has separate systems with different minimum and maximum fares. The Transport Ministry is working to negotiate with private companies that operate metro services to lower fares, hoping to cap the fare at 20 baht on more routes in the future. While the number of passengers has increased since the fare cap, the government will likely need to subsidize the metro services to continue the implementation of the fare cap.
