The fare cut is the outcome of a meeting of Chao Phraya’s management and the Thai Transport Ministry yesterday. The cut is meant to reflect the drop in the price of the diesel used to power the ferries. Daroon Saengchai is a permanent secretary with the ministry and said the cut in ticket prices followed an earlier agreement with transport operators.
The agreement was tied to the price of diesel and specified that if the price of the fuel bottomed out at THB20 for one week or more, boat operators would cut their fares accordingly. Ticket prices for Chao Phraya express ferries vary according to the number of stops travelled and the class of the vessel.
Fares for basic non-colour coded services currently begin at THB10 while on premium yellow-flag ferries they are THB29 and up. The two other ferry classes are orange and green flag. Ferries are a convenient option for travel to locations close to the Chao Phraya as they avoid Bangkok’s infamous rush-hour traffic jams.
Bangkok reduces express river ferry ticket prices
News in Asia
The Chao Phraya Express Boat Company has announced that a reduction in fares on Bangkok river ferries is due to come into effect tomorrow. The fares are being reduced by THB1 for each stop travelled on boats that ply routes linking Nonthaburi, Sathorn and Ratburana on the Chao Phraya River in the Thai capital.