Project News

On October 20, 2022, the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) and JICA Study Team (JET) held the first online learning session. It aims to share and discuss the specific and technical topic of urban railway development from Thailand and Japan.

There are representatives from relevant organizations such as DRT, State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO), National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), Traffic, and Transportation Department of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organization, Nakhon Pathom Provincial Administrative Organization, Mass Rapid Transit Administration (MRTA), Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM), Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC), and Asia Era One attended this learning session.

In the morning session, JET presented about the types of railway and railway fares of Tokyo Metro (discount fares) and those non-fare box revenue. DRT representative presented the urban railway investment scheme in Bangkok.

The afternoon session continued with two presentations from JET members. First one is about "Japanese Railway: Sustainable Business through Reinvestment and Maintenance" which covers new line development through cross-subsidization, revenue improvement from fare revision, exploiting network effect from network expansion for financial stability, and maintenance cost increase. The second one is about "Developing Business Schemes for Privately operated Rail Services", which include financial support measures (investing, lending and subsidizing), and bundling and separation of railway businesses.

During the discussion, the participants discussed urban rail fares, the investment scheme and the income of the Japanese local government, construction costs and subsidies from the government, maintenance costs of the railway (infrastructure and system) and the possibility to reduce the fares after completion of the construction of all routes. The investment scheme for Thai local governments was also discussed if they have any interest to develop in the railway system for sustainability for all (local government, operator and people).

DRT and JET members at DRT meeting room