The Red Line commuter rail service in Bangkok is seeing a steady rise in passengers, prompting authorities to introduce additional feeder services aimed at enhancing convenience and connectivity. Starting in March 2025, a free shuttle service will operate between the Lak Si station and the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, offering a seamless travel option for commuters. Additionally, four new electric minibus routes will be introduced from the Rangsit station, expected to improve access to key locations, with services anticipated to commence in June 2025.
According to Suthep Phanpeng, the Managing Director of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the number of daily passengers on the Red Line has been steadily increasing, with weekday ridership reaching approximately 43,000 to 44,000 and weekends seeing about 25,000 to 30,000 users. This increase follows the implementation of the flat fare policy of 20 baht for the first year. Looking ahead, the target for 2025 is to achieve 86,000 daily passengers, marking a 23% growth, a figure that is considered ambitious in comparison to the typical 7-10% annual growth seen across the country’s public transport systems.
Suthep emphasized that the focus of SRT remains on improving the travel experience for passengers, especially in terms of integrating the Red Line with other public transportation systems to offer smooth and efficient connections. In collaboration with the Treasury Department, SRT is preparing to launch a trial shuttle bus service at no cost to the public. This shuttle will run between Lak Si station and the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana, a key government office complex. Passengers will be able to board the shuttle by walking a short 400-meter distance from the station’s exit, which takes about 6 minutes on foot.
In addition, SRT is in talks with Future Park Rangsit shopping mall to introduce further feeder services connecting the Rangsit station with the mall, enhancing travel options for the surrounding community. Current ridership at Rangsit station is already seeing a significant increase, with 7,000 daily passengers compared to just 2,000-3,000 previously.
The Transport and Land Transport Committee of Pathum Thani Province has approved four additional minibus routes from Rangsit station. These routes will connect commuters to areas such as Nakhon Nayok, Thammasat University, and the Rangsit District. The service will use electric minibuses, with plans for these routes to be operational by June 2025.
