BANGKOK, Thailand – Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) is working with transport authorities to prepare the BTS Green Line for Thailand’s planned joint-ticket system, which will introduce fares ranging from 17 to 45 baht per trip from January 1, 2027. BTSC President Surapong Laoha-anya said the company has been discussing technical preparations with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) and the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) to ensure the system can operate smoothly with minimal disruption to passengers. Under the government’s joint-fare policy, passengers will pay an initial fare only once when travelling across connecting rail lines, with the total fare capped at 45 baht.
A key requirement will be the installation of EMV Contactless readers, allowing passengers to pay by tapping credit or debit cards, across the Green Line network. The main Green Line route and its extensions currently have more than 1,000 entrance gates. BTSC estimates that installing EMV readers across all gates and stations would take around 18 months, meaning the company will need to find an interim solution to meet the January 1 launch date. Surapong said BTSC is discussing two or three possible approaches with the OTP and DRT. One option would be to use swing gates equipped for the new payment system, but the company is concerned that relying only on these gates during the initial phase could create congestion and inconvenience for passengers.
The parties are also working to determine who will be responsible for investing in and installing the EMV equipment, with discussions expected to be concluded soon. Under the joint-fare system, a Clearing House will handle payments between operators when passengers travel across different rail lines. For journeys using the BTS system, passengers would initially be charged under the normal system, with the Clearing House subsequently arranging refunds within three days where applicable.
The exact level of government compensation or subsidies to rail operators remains under discussion.
The Green Line currently carries an average of around 700,000 to 800,000 passengers per day. BTSC expects the introduction of the 17–45 baht joint-fare policy to increase ridership by almost 10%.
Meanwhile, a separate issue remains over the proposed transfer of the Green and Gold Line projects from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Transport Ministry officials are scheduled to meet with the BMA on August 31 to discuss the proposed transfer.
The transfer may not be completed by January 1, 2027, due to the complexity of issues involving assets, liabilities, outstanding loans and the operating contract between the BMA and BTS, which runs until 2045. However, officials believe the transfer should not prevent the joint-ticket and 17–45 baht fare policy from starting on schedule, since the fare system can initially operate through EMV payments, with the Clearing House managing fare calculations and settlements when passengers cross between rail lines.
