In a stride toward improved public transport, the Pheu Thai-led coalition under the Department of Rail Transport has begun unravelling the intricacies of standardizing a flat fare of 20 baht per trip on Bangkok’s electric train network, according to a department insider. The conclusions of this investigation will be offered to the incoming administration at the start of its mandate.
The department insider informs that there are essentially two scenarios in review. The first plan proposes introducing a flat fare of 20 baht per trip exclusively for low-income individuals, specifically those in possession of a state welfare card. The alternative plan entails extending the flat rate to all travellers on the electric train network in the capital, without any distinctions.
The implementation of the initial scenario would be more financially feasible, as the government would simply have to fund trips made by state welfare cardholders. Currently, 31,019 welfare cardholders rely upon the city’s electric trains for their daily transportation – after the fares become limited to 20 baht, the usage is anticipated to surge to approximately 34,000 commuters per day. The government would, thus, need to financially support an estimated 35 baht per journey, totalling 52,190 baht per day, or a yearly sum of 307.9 million baht stated the source.
Conversely, the second scenario will demand a larger outlay as the number of passengers benefitting from the subsidy will increase substantially. With a cost of 17.47 baht per ride, the government will be anticipated to allot a daily subsidy sum of 16.5 million baht equating to annual subsidies of approximately 5.44 billion baht to maintain the 20-baht fare, as calculated by the insider.
Nonetheless, maintaining the 20 baht fare universally could result in a severe increment in the daily sum of electric train commuters. The insider projects an escalation of around 9.6%, corresponding to approximately 104,296 individuals, bringing the daily count of commuters to nearly 1.19 million.
The Department of Rail Transport anticipates that if these policies are effectively enforced prior to the start of the coming year, it could importantly reduce the accumulation of potentially harmful ultra-fine PM2.5 pollutant which tends to peak in colder seasons. The shift towards public transport would help in creating a healthier, more sustainable city environment.
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