The joint-ticketing system for all of the city's electric trains is expected to be launched in the middle of 2016.
Passengers could start buying the common tickets for BTS trains, subways and the Airport Rail Link in July 2016, as part of the first phase of the joint-ticketing system, transport permanent secretary Soithip Traisuth said yesterday.
The second phase will be put in place before the end of 2016 and offers common tickets for expressways under the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) and motorways under the Department of Highways.
The third phase involves city buses run by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), with the electronic ticketing system being installed to validate the common tickets.
"According to the plan, the preparation of the joint-ticketing system must be completed within 18 months, and the service should be available for all forms of mass transport before the end of 2016," Ms Soithip said.
Ticket prices will depend on distance, Ms Soithip said.
She said a decision has not been reached about rates.
Ms Soithip said the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) will discuss the ticketing system with public transport operators and convenience stores.
She said the Department of Highways will begin an e-ticketing system in April next year to collect road tolls with M-pass cards.
She said the measure will be more convenient for motorists and will help tackle traffic congestion in front of toll booths.
From June 2016, motorists will be allowed to use both Exat's Easy Pass cards and M-pass cards for both expressways and motorways, she said.
The joint-ticketing system will be designed by consulting firms over the next six months, and a system test will proceed in the six months after that.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong yesterday said he has approved in principle a plan to cut intercity bus fares by two satang (0.02 baht) per kilometre.
The cut came after diesel prices declined from 30 baht per litre to 26.89 baht, ACM Prajin said.
The fare cut, however, needs to be approved by the Committee of Central Land Transportation, chaired by transport deputy permanent secretary Pongchai Kasemthaweesak, before it comes into effect, the minister said.
ACM Prajin said the prices could be adjusted from Jan 16 next year.
The ministry has yet to consider slashing fares for other public land transport services, including city buses and song thaews. The matter could be discussed next year, he said.