Thailand considers extending daily rail fare caps through 2027

The Thai government is considering an extension of the daily flat-rate fare cap for the Red and Purple rail lines. The proposal aims to extend the current measure, which is scheduled to end on November 30, 2026, until December 31, 2027.

The measure covers the State Railway of Thailand’s Red Line (Nakhon Wiwat and Thani Ratya lines) and the MRT Purple Line. Under the current scheme, passengers can travel for a daily cap of 40 baht using EMV contactless cards.

Data from August 2026 shows significant growth following the implementation of these measures. The Red Line saw an 89.01% increase in daily passengers, while the Purple Line saw a 135.41% increase. Total daily passengers across both lines averaged 37,113, representing a 121.54% increase. The Ministry of Transport will submit the proposal to the Cabinet for formal consideration.