BANGKOK, Thailand – The government will expand its 20-baht flat-fare policy to cover eight major train lines starting 1 October, with registration required for all eligible Thai citizens.
This initiative is designed to reduce daily travel expenses and promote greater use of public transportation. The flat fare will apply per trip, even when transferring between different train lines. Registration for the program will open next month through the government’s “Tang Rath” application.
The policy will include the Green, Gold, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Purple, and Red lines, as well as the Airport Rail Link. While the Purple and Red lines already offer a 20-baht fare, the remaining lines will be added to the program from the October launch date.
To qualify for the fare, Thai citizens must register their national ID card and link a valid travel card via the app. During the initial phase, separate cards may be required for different lines, as full system integration is not yet in place.
EMV contactless cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, will be accepted on six of the lines. The Rabbit Card will be usable on the Green, Gold, Yellow, and Pink lines.
Commuters who do not register or who are not Thai citizens will continue to pay standard fares. The government is subsidizing the program at an estimated cost of 8 billion baht per year, funded through revenues from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). A more convenient QR code payment system is also planned for launch in 2026. (NNT)
