Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit told parliament last night that he is confident that the state-owned Purple and Red Lines train services will move into profit in the next six months, after the introduction of the feeder bus system.

Rebutting opposition MPs’ criticisms over the government’s policy to set the maximum fare on all electric train services in and around Bangkok at 20 baht, Suriya cited the case of the Purple and Red Lines trains, claiming that income from fare collection has increased steadily since the capped fare come into effect on November 30^th.

He said that the two lines were sustaining a combined loss of about 6.9 million baht a day but, after the fare was capped at 20 baht, more people have begun using the services.

The minister also said that a feeder bus system, using air-conditioned electric buses, will be introduced within the next six months and that this will further facilitate travel by commuters to and from some busy train stations where there are no other bus services.

As for the other electric train services, operated by private entities and which are charging higher train fares, he said that the Transport Ministry will negotiate with them to lower the fares to the 20 baht maximum, but they must be compensated for any losses incurred.

Suriya said the Transport Ministry is working on a draft bill on a single train ticket system for all electric train services, to be submitted to the cabinet for approval.