Transport ·
Bangkok's 45 THB rail cap is for Thai riders. Visitors get a 40 THB day cap
Bangkok plans a 45 THB cap per trip across 8 rail lines from 1 January 2027, but only for Thai nationals on the Paotang app. What visitors can use today is a 40 THB daily cap on the Red and Purple lines, set to end 30 November 2026.
Checked 31 October 2026 against Transport Ministry, MRTA, BEM and Red Line operator notices.
The 45 THB cap: not for visitors
- What it is: a common fare of 17 THB to board and no more than 45 THB per trip, even when you change lines.
- Lines: Red, Airport Rail Link, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Pink, Green and Gold.
- Start date: the target is 1 January 2027. The Transport Ministry was due to ask the Cabinet for the funding on 26 October 2026, and the funding is not yet approved.
- Who gets it: Thai nationals only, registered on the Paotang app and paying with a contactless Visa or Mastercard.
- How it works: you pay the full fare at the gate, and the difference is refunded later through Paotang.
The 40 THB day cap visitors can use now
- Lines: the SRT Red lines and the MRT Purple Line only.
- The deal: an adult pays no more than 40 THB a day in total, with no limit on rides.
- How to pay: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay credit or debit card in and out. Mangmoom and MRT EMV cards also qualify.
- Use one card: tap in and out with the same card for every ride that day. A missed tap loses the cap for that day.
- Refund: you are charged the normal fare per trip, and anything above 40 THB goes back to the card within 3 working days.
- End date: 30 November 2026. An extension to 31 December 2027 has been proposed but not approved yet.
Where it saves you money
- Don Mueang airport: the Red Line stops at Don Mueang station. A ride to Krung Thep Aphiwat is 33 THB, so a same-day return nets out at 40 THB after the refund, not 66 THB.
- Light Red Line to Taling Chan: Krung Thep Aphiwat to Taling Chan is 35 THB each way. Out and back in one day nets out at 40 THB, not 70 THB.
What the cap does not cover
- MRT Blue Line and BTS: you pay normal fares there. Changing to the Blue Line at Bang Sue, next to Krung Thep Aphiwat, starts a new fare.
- Airport Rail Link: also outside the cap. It has taken contactless cards at all 8 stations since 8 November 2025, with fares from 15 to 45 THB.
- Rabbit cards: they do not qualify for either cap. BTS and MRT card tips are in our guide to Grab, BTS and MRT.