Thailand’s Ministry of Transport has revealed a 15-year master plan to expand Bangkok’s electric rail network, aiming to add 245 kilometers of new routes under the second phase of its Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan (M-MAP 2). The plan, officially introduced on 21 July 2025, also supports the government’s push for a flat 20-baht fare across all lines, making Bangkok the only city globally to propose such a unified rate on 18 rail lines.
Developed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), M-MAP 2 is designed to guide urban growth and improve public mobility across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region from 2025 to 2040. The plan identifies seven new routes comprising ten distinct rail projects, totaling 112.65 kilometers with an estimated cost of 242.2 billion baht.
Among these, three are entirely new lines: the Brown Line (Khae Rai–Lam Sali), Silver Line (Bang Na–Suvarnabhumi), and Grey Line (Watcharaphon–Thong Lo), while the remaining focus on Red Line and Green Line extensions. Four projects are ready to begin immediately, including the Red Line extensions from Rangsit to Thammasat University and from Taling Chan to both Salaya and Siriraj, as well as the new Brown Line.
These expansions are expected to bring the network’s total coverage to 245 kilometers across 18 lines, requiring an estimated investment of 583.4 billion baht. To meet increasing demand, the Ministry also plans feeder systems such as electric buses and trams to improve access to stations, and aims to double daily ridership from 1.7 million to 3.4 million by 2040.
While the full integration of all ten new lines into the 20-baht fare scheme remains subject to future government decisions, the second phase of the policy covering eight lines is set to begin on 1 October 2025. The fate of the flat-fare initiative, however, may depend on the political direction of the next government, with debates ongoing about its fiscal impact and its benefit concentration in Bangkok over rural areas.
Officials attending the announcement included Athipu Chitranukroh, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport, who highlighted the importance of equitable urban connectivity and collaborative efforts with JICA to promote transit-oriented development, particularly around Bangkok’s central rail hub.
