To reduce living and transportation expenses, the government is preparing to extend the “daily flat-rate transit pass” for the Red and Purple Line electric trains, originally scheduled to end on 30 November, through to 31 December 2027.
On 25 October 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamisaengchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, announced that the government, through the Ministry of Transport, has assigned the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to implement the policy to reduce citizens’ expenses by executing the measure. “Daily flat-rate transit pass.” This measure is set to expire on 30 November 2026.
Ms. Ploytale said, The meeting of the committee overseeing the policy to set fares for electric trains to ease the public’s cost of living considered a proposal to extend the measure until 31 December 2027, instead of ending on 30 November 2026. This extension covers the SRT’s Red Line commuter trains, including the Nakhon Withee Line (Bangkok–Taling Chan) and the Thani Ratthaya Line (Bangkok–Rangsit), as well as the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand’s (MRTA) Purple Line (Chalong Ratchathani Line). This is to continuously help reduce travel expenses during the transition period. The Ministry of Transport will present this proposal to the Cabinet for further consideration.
The government deputy spokesperson added that since the implementation of the daily flat-rate transit pass on the Red and Purple Lines started on 1 December 2025, cumulative data as of the end of August 2026 shows a significant increase in passengers using the EMV Contactless card system on both lines. The Red Line averages 9,460 passenger trips per day, up 89.01%, with average daily fare revenue of 0.31 million baht, up 212.43%. The Purple Line averages 27,653 passenger trips per day, up 135.41%, with average daily fare revenue of 0.60 million baht, up 275.00%. Combined, the two lines average 37,113 passenger trips daily, an increase of 121.54%.
This reflects the positive impact of the measure in promoting the use of rail mass transit systems, both in passenger numbers and fare revenue, along with the increasing use of EMV Contactless cards for fare payment. These are key data supporting the consideration to extend the measure’s duration.