BANGKOK, Thailand – A female street vendor was left disheartened after being asked to leave Bangkok’s Chatuchak MRT station due to carrying “too many items” — despite her belongings being neatly packed. The incident has triggered a public debate over transit rules, fairness, and how policies affect working-class passengers.
The woman had just collected clothing supplies for her small business, accompanied by her mother, and was trying to travel home via the MRT. She had used the BTS Skytrain without issue, but upon entering the MRT Chatuchak station, she was told by staff to leave, citing excessive luggage.
“I’m not a customer? I’m not a passenger?” she posted online. “If I had two 29-inch suitcases, it would probably be fine. So what’s the difference? My bags were packed properly. They weren’t spilling out or bothering anyone.”
Her belongings included two large blue bags pushed on a small trolley by her mother, along with one yellow bag and another blue bag that she herself carried. All items were visibly secured and stacked.
The vendor expressed her frustration, noting that her home was far from the station and she now had to find a new, less convenient way to transport goods. “It just makes making a living harder,” she said.
The incident quickly went viral online, with many sympathizing with her situation and questioning the consistency of luggage rules across Bangkok’s train systems.
Today, the popular transport information page “BKKTrain” offered clarification, citing the Ministerial Regulation on MRT conduct (B.E. 2547 / 2004). The rule, issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Transport, specifically prohibits:
Section 2, Article 5 (3):
Passengers are forbidden to bring personal belongings that are either too large or heavy to carry unaided, pose a risk to the system, or cause inconvenience or discomfort to other passengers.
According to BKKTrain, the vendor’s belongings fall under this restriction.
The explanation also emphasized that MRT and BTS are operated by different agencies, each with separate rulebooks. What is allowed on BTS (like larger suitcases or vendor bags) might be restricted on MRT lines due to differing policies.
The incident sheds light on how transport policies — though designed for order and safety — may sometimes inadvertently disadvantage low-income workers who rely on public transit for their livelihood.
