A 20-baht flat fare went into effect at 11am yesterday on Bangkok's Red and Purple electric train lines.
The rate was launched yesterday at Krung Thep Aphjiwat Central Terminal, home of the Red Line's Central Station.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) had affirmed there would be no operational glitches with the new fare.
At least 100,000 passengers were expected to use the Red and Purple lines daily with the flat-rate fare now in place.
The 41-kilometre SRT-operated Red Line has 13 stations connecting Taling Chan and Rangsit, while the 23-kilometre MRT's Purple Line has 16 stations running between Bang Sue and Khlong Bang Phai.
Before the flat rate, the Purple Line charged commuters between 14 and 42 baht and the Red Line 12 and 42 baht.
The flat rate allows passengers to pay no more than 20 baht on the entire route of either line.
However, commuters who switch between the two lines during their trip currently have to pay the 20-baht fare twice.
Mr Suriya said a software system is being improved so commuters can interconnect without having to do this. He said this was expected to be ready by Nov 1.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said the government needs to spend 130 million baht annually to subsidise the 20-baht flat fare policy.
Emerging from the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed satisfaction that the policy had materialised quickly.
Mr Srettha said he has instructed the ministry to come up with a plan to implement similar policies on other electric train lines across the city.
Suthep Punthupeng, CEO of the SRT Electrified Train Co, said that passengers on the SRT's Red Line who used special tickets will still receive the same benefits they had before.
The agency will assess the flat rate performance and benefits annually, he added.
