Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha marked the success of the new Blue Line extension linking Thonburi's Lak Song to Hua Lamphong station with a promise: more trains will be built to help Bangkok combat the twin problems of traffic congestion and air pollution.
"Traffic problems can be relieved if Bangkok residents, particularly motorists, have more choices of travel, and a rail network should be one of them," said Gen Prayut on Tuesday, as he inspected the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand's (MRTA) new service. The premier rode the Blue Line from Tha Phra station in Bangkok Yai district to Wat Mangkon next to Chinatown.
According to the MRTA, up to 2.5 million people used the service during the two-month trial period, which ended last month.
"The government wants to gear up and modernise transport systems for all people. We have to fill all major areas with these electric trains," said Gen Prayut, hitting the nail squarely on the head. Bangkok is currently choking under a blanket of PM2.5 pollution -- mostly derived from fumes belched by vehicles on its congested roads.
Yet the prime minister failed to address a crucial point: What action will his government take to reduce the high fares? While Thai passengers pay an average 67.4 baht per trip, those in Singapore and Hong Kong pay 25.7 baht and 46.5 baht per trip respectively.
To make Bangkok's service a real success, the operators must lower ticket prices.
It is a fact that high fares put trains out of reach for most people on lower incomes. Meanwhile, pricey tickets coupled with the patchy network means that even those who can afford it reject the train in favour of their cars.
Over the past few months, experts and a member of the cabinet have proposed ways to make the fares more affordable. The ball is now firmly in the Prayut government's court.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob suggested a flat rate of 15 baht across the city rail network. But the minister failed to show how his proposal could be transformed into reality without placing a heavy burden on state coffers. The skytrain operator has made it clear that it wants the state to shoulder the costs of any discount.
A direct government subsidy is a no-no. After all, it would be unfair to ask taxpayers across the whole country to fund cheaper travel for Bangkok commuters.
Academics have suggested reducing fares during off-peak periods, as an incentive for commuters to travel outside of rush hours. Also proposed is a tax rebate for regular users, which should work well among middle- and upper-middle-class commuters.
Though a tax rebate would dent state revenue, it's acceptable as a short-term measure when you consider the economic losses we currently face from health problems caused by pollution from heavy traffic congestion. At the same time, state authorities must be more astute in negotiating to secure acceptable fare structures with train operators. They should also be offering incentives to invest in park-and-ride infrastructure.
Among the goals for the government, however, one is especially urgent: the launch of common tickets that eliminate the base fare currently paid by all passengers.
When fares are affordable and network coverage complete, the government will be in a strong position to pressure Bangkok's car owners to switch to the mass-transit system. Then, measures such as congestion fees and stricter parking regulations can be used to discourage people from driving, meaning Bangkok's traffic congestion will be eased.