The House approved by 226:142 votes today the Pheu Thai party’s draft bill on an integrated ticketing system, so passengers can use a single ticket for their entire journey, involving urban train and bus services.
A similar bill, proposed by the People’s party, was dropped by MPs in preference for the government’s version.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri told the House that the draft bill includes an integrated ticketing system, to be developed by the Office of Traffic Policy and Planning, transportation fares to be set by the Transport Ministry and the formation of a fund to support the integrated ticketing system and transport operators.
She said that the integrated ticketing system will reduce expense for commuters, make their travel seamless and will encourage more people to switch from private cars to public transport.
Surachet Praweenawongwut, a party-list MP for the People’s party, noted, however, that the Pheu Thai party’s integrated ticketing system, which focuses on the 20-baht fare for all electric urban train services, may not address the overall public transport fare issue, which also involves bus services.
He said that the People’s party’s bill focussed on the integrated fare system, which set fares between 8 and 45 baht and covered all modes of transport, including urban train, boat and bus services.
