Joint Ticket Management Bill
{{Short description|Proposed law in Thailand}}
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title = Joint Ticket Management Act (draft)
| legislature = Parliament of Thailand
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| territorial_extent = Thailand
| considered_by = House of Representatives
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| preliminary_reading = 29 January 2025
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| status = pending
| image = New Seal of the Royal Command of Thailand.svg
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The Joint Ticket Management Bill ({{Langx|th|ร่างพระราชบัญญัติการบริหารจัดการระบบตั๋วร่วม}}; {{RTGS|Rang Phra Ratchabanyat Kan Borihan Chatkan Rabop Tua Ruam|italic=}}), also known as the Common Ticket System Management Bill, is a proposed Thai law to consolidate ticketing systems for public transit in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, including trains, electric trains, buses, and boats.{{Cite news |last=Wancharoen |first=Supoj |date=2025-02-01 |title=Commute to be simplified to single pass |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2952021/commute-to-be-simplified-to-single-pass |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-30 |title=Explainer: How govt plans to fund the THB20 flat train fare |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40043737 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=nationthailand |language=en-US}}
Background
Bangkok has an amalgamation of public transit systems owned and operated by various government entities and companies. These include:
- BTS Skytrain, Bangkok BRT, and Gold Line—operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL
- MRT Purple and Blue lines—operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro
- MRT Yellow and Pink lines—operated by Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited and Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (Subsidiary of BSR Consortium)
- Airport Rail Link—operated by Asia Era One Company Limited
- Commuter rail (Northern, Northeastern, Southern, and Eastern Lines) and Maeklong Railway—operated by State Railway of Thailand
- Buses—operated by Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA)
As a result, each system uses different payment methods.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-11 |title=The ticketing mess of Bangkok's rail transit |url=https://futuresoutheastasia.com/ticketing-of-bangkoks-rail-transit/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=futuresoutheastasia.com |language=en-US}} Previous efforts to introduce a common transit payment system include the Mangmoom (Spider) Card.{{Cite news |last=Banchongduang |first=Somruedi |date=2018-09-15 |title=Dual-chip KTB 'Mangmoom' cards for MRT |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/1540254/dual-chip-ktb-mangmoom-cards-for-mrt |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Reporters |first=Online |date=2018-06-15 |title=Mangmoom card usable on MRT from June 23 |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1485958/mangmoom-card-usable-on-mrt-from-june-23 |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}}
In September 2022, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) proposed a Joint Ticket Act.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-10 |title=Transport authorities set to push for one ticket for all public transport in Bangkok |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/policies/40019946 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=nationthailand |language=en-US}}
Legislative history
On 29 January 2025, the House of Representatives unanimously approved in principle the draft Joint Ticket Management Act.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-31 |title=Lower House approves 'Joint Ticket' draft |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40045756 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=nationthailand |language=en-US}} A special committee to oversee the bill will be established. Deputy Minister of Transport Manaporn Charoensri expects the enactment of the Act to begin in the middle of 2025.
Provisions
The Act will centralize ticketing systems for Bangkok's mass transit under one platform designed by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning. This will commuters allow to board different systems using one ticket, and reduce fares.{{Cite news |last=Reporters |first=Post |date=2025-02-17 |title=New Bangkok public transport ticketing system 'may lower prices' |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2962511/new-ticketing-system-may-lower-prices |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}} A key policy position of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the Act will implement a 20 Baht flat fee for electric train routes.{{Cite news |last=Reporters |first=Post |date=2024-11-29 |title=20-baht transit fare extended for 2025 |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2911247/20-baht-transit-fare-extended-for-2025 |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-06 |title=Transport Ministry eyes 20-baht flat fare for Skytrain by 2025 |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/policy/40040347 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=nationthailand |language=en-US}} The act will establish a Joint Ticket Promotion Fund to compensate private operators for lost revenue.