Long rides on the BTS Green Line will get more expensive next month, with the new maximum fare possibly climbing to THB158 (US$5) because City Hall can’t pay its bills.
The capital city’s longest rail line, which stretches from northern to southeastern metro Bangkok, is due for a fare hike, but today Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang said the city hasn’t reached an agreement with its operator on what the maximum fare, now THB59, should be.
The line, aka the Sukhumvit Line, continues to grow longer, adding 16 new stations to the north since August 2019.
Aswin noted that the new cap could reach as high as THB158 because of the city’s debt to the Bangkok Mass Transit System, which operates the city-owned lines under a concession. He complained that City Hall will still lose money even at that rate.
For now, they will continue to not count travel beyond BTS Mo Chit against commuters’ fares, meaning a trip from BTS Siam to Khu Khot costs the same as going to Mo Chit.
That will remain in place until Feb. 16, as Aswin said a final fare structure for all stations would be announced tomorrow. The city is required to give 30-day notification of any changes before they can go into effect.
Bangkok Mass Transit CEO Suraphong Laohaanya announced today that currently the city owes his firm THB9 billion (US$300 million).
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