A 45-baht cap per rail trip: Bangkok commuters hopeful – Rabbit card users annoyed

What happened

The transport ministry was due on 26 October to ask the cabinet for around 5.85 billion baht from the central reserve. The money would compensate operators of eight rail lines in greater Bangkok – including the Green, Blue, Purple and Red lines and the Airport Rail Link – for one year. From 1 January to 31 December 2027, a trip would cost between 17 and 45 baht, with the entry fee charged only once, even when changing lines. The cabinet had approved the principle in June; whether it has now released the money was not confirmed at the time of writing.

The discount applies only to Thai nationals. They must register a Visa or Mastercard contactless bank card in the state Paotang app, pay the full fare up front and receive the difference within three days. Registration is due to start in December. The widely used Rabbit card is excluded for now because, according to Krungthai Bank, its system does not yet meet the required standards.

At the same time, the 40-baht day pass for the Red and Purple lines will be extended until the end of 2027. Since it was introduced, combined trips on both lines have risen by more than 121 percent, the ministry says.

The mood on the ground

The government justifies the plan with rising energy prices and living costs, saying rail fares are a heavy burden for many households, especially because of repeated entry fees when transferring. A Monday column in the newspaper Naewna shows how strong the pressure is: wages are stagnating while prices rarely fall – a shared taxi on Srinakarin Road now costs 15 baht instead of 10, a rice dish 55 baht instead of 50.

The card question caused the most irritation. News portal News1Live ran a headline saying Bangkokians were fed up that their Rabbit card will not qualify for the cheaper fare from January. The ministry therefore plans dedicated gates and five to six extra bank-card readers per station on the Green Line to avoid crowding.

There is also more fundamental criticism: according to Naewna, a transport expert publicly questioned whether the scheme really cuts costs or mainly subsidises fares with taxpayers' money. The ministry counters that more passengers will lower costs and the budget may not be fully used.

Voices from the media