Politics
Silom Regional Connectivity Bill Shifts Transport Spending to Rail Extensions
The measure reallocates 150 million units from bus operations to new rail lines, changing costs and access for residents who rely on public transport in the central business area.
How we reported this
The Silom state legislature passed the Regional Connectivity Bill on July 5, directing 150 million units to rail extensions while cutting 40 million units from bus route subsidies that serve the Silom market and surrounding streets.
State budget papers released in June showed a 12 percent drop in transport revenue for the 2025-26 year, prompting lawmakers to consolidate spending on longer-term infrastructure projects listed in the bill text.
Changes for Local Travel Patterns
Residents living within two kilometres of the planned rail stops near the old port area will gain direct service to the industrial zone by late 2027, according to the project schedule attached to the legislation. At the same time, operators of the 12 bus routes that cross Silom Road face reduced payments, which the bill states will require higher fares or fewer daily runs starting in the first quarter of 2027.
Policy analysts note that households without cars in the dense blocks around Silom Square currently make 68 percent of their work trips by bus, a figure drawn from the most recent state household travel survey. Those same households will face the first round of fare adjustments once the funding reduction takes effect.
The legislation states that remaining bus allocations will prioritise routes feeding into the new rail stations rather than cross-town services that now stop at the central market.
Timeline for Rollout
Construction contracts for the first rail segment are expected to be awarded in September, with the government saying the initial section will open in 18 months. Bus timetable revisions will be published by the transport authority in December for public comment before any service changes begin.