Latest news with #SuriyaJungrungreangkit
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Passenger service charge at Thai airports may go up
The Transport Ministry has told Airports of Thailand (AoT) to explore the possibility of raising the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for departing passengers at six major airports under its supervision. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said an increase of 100 baht is under consideration. The study will compare Thailand's rates to those at major international airports, including those in Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. The results are expected by September. According to Mr Suriya, the current PSC rates collected in Thailand may be below the global average. Paveena Chariyathitiphong, acting AoT president, confirmed the study is already underway. She said the primary goal is to boost income and reinvest in transforming Thailand's airports into aviation hubs for Asia. The review will consider facility upgrades, particularly to improve convenience for transit passengers. Upon conclusion of the study, the AoT will submit its proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand and the Civil Aviation Board, with the goal of implementing the new rates before the end of the year. At present, the AoT charges 730 baht per international departing passenger and 130 baht per domestic departing passenger.
Bangkok Post
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Bangkok Post
Transport safety stressed in stormy northern Thailand
Thai transport agencies are taking safety precautions and are ready to offer public assistance for any effects caused by Tropical Storm Wipha in northern Thailand, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Wednesday. The storm has weakened since moving in from Laos but has caused persistent heavy rain and flooding in some provinces in the North, according to the Meteorological Department. The key provinces affected are Nan, Chiang Rai and Phayao. Mr Suriya said the Department of Highways has set up warning and detour signs on affected roads and stationed security staff for 24 hours at points prone to floods and landslides, with machinery on standby for emergencies. The Department of Rural Roads was thoroughly inspecting roads and will alert the public to any damage through updates on its Flood Management System (FMS). The State Railway of Thailand, meanwhile, is cleaning and improving drainage systems. Safety checks on tracks, trains, signals and barriers are under way, along with a review of emergency response plans and temporary shelters for passengers. Chiang Mai Airport since Monday has opened a coordination centre with equipment and staff on hand in domestic passenger hall 1, according to Airports of Thailand. Airport staff are also holding daily situation assessment meetings at 9am. Parking for 250 vehicles is available for affected individuals. Mae Fah Luang Airport in Chiang Rai is also allowing free parking for flood-affected residents until Thursday. Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok remains unaffected, with normal flight operations. Passengers planning flights from Thailand to heavily affected areas, such as Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen, are advised to continuously check their flight status. In case of delays or cancellations, passengers are entitled to full refunds or flight changes, except for compensation due to unforeseeable external events, said the Civil Aviation Authority. Passengers who will be arriving in Thailand can check situation updates via websites of airports where they will be landing. Measures are in place to ensure flight safety and air traffic management, according to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand.
Bangkok Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
'Progress' in joint rail ticketing bid
The government has made significant progress in amending two key regulations which it hopes will pave the way for the introduction of the 20-baht fare cap across Bangkok's electric rail network, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced yesterday. Mr Suriya said the changes to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) Act and the Joint Ticketing System Management Act -- which will facilitate the establishment of a joint ticketing support fund -- will be submitted to the House of Representatives by Aug 7. Once the amendments are approved by the House, the revised acts will be put up for a public hearing, as required by the law. Under the proposed system, the MRTA will transfer revenues from managing the city's rapid transit network to the Ministry of Finance, which will then compensate private rail operators for losses incurred under the 20-baht fare policy. The compensation will be calculated based on actual passenger data, Mr Suriya said. He said he was confident that the MRTA would be able to generate enough revenue to sustain the scheme, which the government hopes will help lower living costs, promote the use of public transport, and reduce congestion, accidents, and pollution in the capital. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing the 20-baht policy by Oct 1. The initiative will cover eight electric rail lines in Bangkok and its suburbs, which span over 276.84 kilometres of tracks and 194 stations. Mr Suriya said he held a meeting with Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt and private rail concessionaires last week, during which all stakeholders expressed strong support for the scheme. A source at the Ministry of Transport noted that the policy's success hinges on the timely enactment of three legislative measures. They are the Railway Transport Act, which sets regulatory standards for the sector; the Joint Ticketing System Management Act, which creates a unified fare system across public transit; and the MRTA Amendment Act, which permits the agency to use its revenue, especially from the profitable MRT Blue Line, to subsidise less profitable services, such as the Red Line, Airport Rail Link, Green Line, and Gold Line, through the new fund.
Bangkok Post
17-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Flat fare a good start
The 20-baht flat fare for electric trains that will run from Oct 1 this year to Sept 30 next year is a welcome move to ease the cost of living for city commuters. It will apply to all eight Bangkok electric train lines with public registration starting in August via the "Tang Rat" mobile app, according to the Ministry of Transport. It's not yet in place, but the public and critics are already wondering how long this generous fare subsidy will last. The fare cap for electric trains and subways in the capital is one of Pheu Thai Party's election promises. While many of the party's bold visions such as the Land Bridge or the casino entertainment complex have fallen flat, the fare cap scheme is perhaps one singular visible achievement that Pheu Thai-led government can brag about. No doubt the party hopes that voters will reward it at the next election. The subsidy will require a budget of seven billion baht a year to keep all city train and subway routes capped at 20 baht. For this year, Deputy PM and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit forked out the money from the State Railway of Thailand's budget. Some critics say the subsidy unfairly takes money that should go into improving the railway system overall. A bigger problem is that the subsidy could actually cost more than budgeted. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which oversees the crowded Green Line, reports needing 11 billion baht in compensation for the line's operations every year. Mr Suriya last year floated the idea of collecting a congestion fee from private vehicles to fund the subsidy. This approach has been adopted in many cities around the world including London and Singapore but unfortunately did not pan out. His plan to pass a law to create a common ticketing system for electric trains also failed to gain traction. Consumers, of course, have been waiting for more than a decade for governments to develop a convenient ticketing system that works on subways and skytrains without incurring extra fees when they switch between the two. Yet the bigger question is whether the fare cap helps improve connectivity and convenience over the mass transport system, or is just a populist handout intended to appease voters? Unfortunately, the fare cap works like a short-term painkiller to ease the cost of living. There is no systematic or follow-up plan to improve connectivity and the quality of public bus services that will feed commuters to city trains and subways. Without better connectivity between city trains, subways and public buses, the fare cap will only encourage some people, perhaps not many, to leave their cars at home and use state-provided mass transit. The government deserves praise for trying to fulfil its pledge and help cut transport costs. But what the public want is a sustainable model that makes public transport accessible and ensures its quality. A fare cap subsidy which comes and goes at the will of elected politicians is not that.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Suspended PM among Thailand's new cabinet members to take oath
Thailand's new Cabinet members took their oaths of office Thursday, including the suspended prime minister who is under an ethics investigation for her remarks to a senior Cambodian leader. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended as prime minister Tuesday, the same day Thailand 's king endorsed a Cabinet lineup in which she would be the culture minister. Ms Shinawatra was smiling as she arrived at Government House for the swearing-in ceremony with other new members, but did not answer questions. Acting prime minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit led the new cabinet members at the ceremony to receive the endorsement from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Mr Jungrungreangkit is expected later to assign the acting prime minister duty to Phumtham Wechayachai, who was sworn in Thursday as deputy prime minister and interior minister. Phumtham had been deputy prime minister and defense minister since Paetongtarn took office last year. Ms Shinawatra has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia, including an armed confrontation in May in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. In a leaked phone call with Cambodian senate president Hun Sen, she attempted to defuse tensions – but instead set off a string of complaints and public protests. Critics said she went to far in appeasing Hun Sen and damaged Thailand's image and reputation. The Constitutional Court voted unanimously Tuesday to review a petition accusing her of a breach of the ethics, and voted 7-2 to immediately suspend her until it issues its ruling. The court gave Ms Shinawatra 15 days to give evidence to support her case. It's unclear when it will rule.
