BANGKOK, May 28 (TNA) – The newly-established Rail Department under the Transport Ministry works with Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) to electric train fare restructuring to make it cheaper.
Sorapong Paitoonpong, deputy director-general of the Rail Department said that the department is studying the country’s rail governance system.
He said it is expected that the bill on rail regulation will be approved by the House of Representatives this year and the Rail Department will be fully authorized for operation.
Its priority task is to adjust electric train fares. An idea is initiated to spend vehicle tax on subsidizing electric rail fares to make it cheaper. Other funds will be considered for the similar practice.
Meanwhile, Sumet Ongkittikul, transport and logistics expert at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) said that passengers pay electric rail fares of about 1,000-2,000 baht per month or about 12,000 baht per year.
Comparing to Singapore, electric train fares in Thailand is 20 per cent higher, he said.
The government should issue a tax deduction measure for spending on electric train fares to encourage commuters to use public transport, he added. (TNA)
