Thailand railway fares to rise 10%

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Thailand railway fares to rise 10% 
Bangkok Post: 31 Jul 2010
First, second class fares to go up 10%

The State Railway of Thailand will raise first- and second-class train fares by 10% but the authority's board has blocked a proposal to also hike third-class fares.

Permanent secretary for transport and SRT chairman Supoj Saplom said yesterday that the board had approved a proposal to increase first- and second-class train fares by 10%.

The changes will take effect on Oct 1.

However, the board rejected a request to raise third-class fares, fearing the proposed hike would adversely affect low-income passengers, Mr Supoj said. SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said the authority had initially pushed for an increase to third-class fares, which was expected to boost SRT revenues by 114 million baht a year.

He said the SRT had wanted to delay raising first- and second-class fares because they were already high, and it was feared that any further increase would result in fewer passengers.

Mr Yutthana said he had ordered SRT executives to discuss the possibility of raising third-class fares with Finance Ministry officials.

Mr Yutthana said that under the new fare structure, first-class fares would increase by 10% from 0.932 baht a kilometre to 1.025 baht a kilometre for the first 100km of travel.

Fares will increase from 0.853 baht a kilometre to 0.938 baht a kilometre for the next 101-200km.

For a trip of 201-300km, fares will jump from 0.785 baht a kilometre to 0.864 baht a kilometre.

Fares for a trip of 301km and longer will increase to 0.813 baht a kilometre from 0.739 baht.

Second-class fares will increase by 10% from 0.488 baht a kilometre to 0.537 baht a kilometre for the first 100km.

Mr Yutthana said the new fare structure was agreed upon by the SRT and the Finance Ministry.

Mr Yutthana said the agreements were reached to determine the appropriate level of funding the SRT would receive from the national budget.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/188750/first-second-class-fares-to-go-up-10