BTS puts fare hike on hold

The minimum fare on the Skytrain will stay at Bt10 until March 1, its operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) announced yesterday following heated negotiations with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).



BTS initially planned to raise the minimum fare from Bt10 to Bt15 from today. However, the BMA - which granted the concession to operate the Skytrain system to BTS - set up a committee to review the fare-adjustment plan. The panel yesterday suggested that the hike be postponed.

Other fares were also due to rise Bt5, although the maximum charge was still going to be Bt40. All increases have, however, now been put on hold.

"Please think about passengers who have just suffered from flooding problems," said committee chairman and Bangkok councillor Pipat Larbprathana.

He also said the BMA planned many extensions of the Skytrain routes that would increase the operator's revenue.

BTS has said it needs to raise fares to cope with a 30-per-cent increase in operating costs. "We have been operating at a loss all along," BTS adviser Anat Abhabhirom said.

Anat said the BTS was Bt7.7 billion in debt. It has to shoulder daily expenses of Bt10.5 million, while its daily income ranges from Bt8 million to Bt9 million.

"We have never raised the fares before. Our contract with the BMA says we are allowed to adjust fares three times and that the fares can range between Bt15 and Bt40," he said.
The fare increase would have boosted BTS's income by 10 per cent, and without affecting long-haul passengers.