Despite the inefficient number of trains during rush hour and ticket machines that don’t accept two baht coins, the BTS will increase certain fares by THB5 tomorrow.
Starting on April 1, you’ll have to pay THB5 more to access the outlying BTS stations . The charge applies to the five stations of the Silom Line (Pho Nimit to Bang Wa) and four stations on Sukhumvit Line (Bang Chak to Bearing).
This means the current maximum BTS fare will increase from THB52 to THB57, and for those who buy 30-day trips, the journey to the inner city from the outlying stations will cost them one trip credit and an additional flat fare of THB15 instead of the usual THB10.
The flat fare remains THB10 for students, while the fare for seniors will increase from THB5 to THB7.
Looks like life just got pricier for suburbanites.
After BTS posted the announcement on Twitter this morning, the organization drew criticism from netizens, who have been demanding better service as the rides keeps getting more and more expensive.
“If you want to increase the fare, just make the ticket machines accept two baht coins, and all stations should accept notes,” the top comment said.
Some pointed out how the government is making life harder for the middle-class who live in the suburbs, referring to the proposed plan to let low-income earners use the BTS for free.
“I’m so tired of this. You have a plan to let poor people use the BTS for free, but you let the middle-class absorb the costs. Don’t you have a better way to charge people?” @QBoutique wrote.
“Am I wrong to live near the new stations? I live far away [from the inner city],” a user named Pod wrote.
“How dare you even think about increasing the fare?” @petchmaso wrote.
Recently, the BTS also announced it would stop accepting credit card payment when riders add value to their Rabbit Cards.
Good bye, convenience.
