Rail merger plan heads to Cabinet next week

Transport Ministry will propose a plan to the Cabinet next week to merge all electric rail systems under the single ownership and management of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) by next year.

Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said today that under the unified ownership model, the Green, Gold, Pink, Yellow and Red lines would be brought under the MRTA, which currently oversees the Blue and Purple lines.

Commuters would be able to travel across all lines using a single ticketing system, with fares ranging from 17 to 45 baht based on distance travelled.

The deputy transport minister said he is confident that the unified ownership model can be achieved next year, noting that the integration process has been under way for some time.

The development of a ticket-reading system capable of accepting both MRTA and BTS tickets remains the main outstanding issue.

Another matter yet to be resolved concerns the transfer of assets and liabilities to the MRTA. Siripong said that the Finance Ministry and state-owned Krung Thai Bank will act as the clearing house for the process.

He also said that the Transport Ministry will be required to seek feedback from all stakeholders regarding the merger and unified ownership structure before the proposal is submitted to the Cabinet for final approval.