Beginning 30 September 2025, Bangkok will implement a maximum fare of 20 baht across all electric train lines in the capital. The initiative aims to alleviate transportation costs for residents and is part of a broader government policy.
The registration for fare eligibility will open in August 2025 through the “Tang Rat” mobile application, accessible to Thai nationals only. Registered passengers will be required to use either an EMV card (credit or debit card with contactless payment) or a registered Rabbit card to receive the fare benefit.
The policy builds on the fare pilot launched in October 2024 on the Red Line (Bang Sue–Rangsit and Bang Sue–Taling Chan) and the MRT Purple Line (Tao Poon–Bang Yai). Under this second-phase rollout, the 20-baht fare cap will apply for one year to all eight metro routes: Red Line, Blue Line, Purple Line, Pink Line, Yellow Line, Green Line, Gold Line, and the Airport Rail Link.
EMV cards will be accepted on six of these lines—Red, Airport Rail Link, Blue, Purple, Pink, and Yellow—while Rabbit cards will work on four lines: Green, Gold, Pink, and Yellow. Commuters who travel across lines may need to carry and switch between both cards but will still benefit from the capped fare. Tourists and unregistered riders will continue to pay the standard fare.
Authorities are currently finalising a central clearing house system to track cross-line travel and compensate operators accordingly. This system is being developed by the Digital Government Development Agency and is expected to be operational soon.
By late 2026, the system is projected to become more streamlined. Plans include QR code-based fare payments via the “Tang Rat” app, removing the need to carry multiple cards. Officials cite Chongqing, China, as a successful model for integrated public transport. There, riders use the Alipay app to scan QR codes for metro access, with fares ranging from 2 to 7 yuan (approximately 10–35 baht), offering a potential template for Bangkok’s transit future.
The announcement was confirmed by Pichet Kunathammarak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport, who also acknowledged the involvement of officials from the Ministry of Transport and the Digital Government Development Agency.
