The elderly and the disabled will have to pay half-fares on buses and trains instead of enjoying free rides after the government discontinues providing the free services from Nov 1.
"We initially wanted the elderly and the handicapped to continue riding public buses and trains free of charge," Pongchai Kasemthaweesak, deputy permanent secretary for transport said on Friday.
However, a study into how free fares would affect government spending found allowing free travel would place too much of a burden on the government's public transport budget at a time when it is seeking to make significant cuts, he said.
It was decided instead to charge the elderly and the handicapped half-price.
Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong had approved the decision, Mr Pongchai said.
Currently, about 309 million baht is required to cover the cost of free bus and train services, he said.
After the free travel scheme ends, only about 109.2 million would be needed to fund the discount fare scheme.
As well as the handicapped and the elderly, military veterans and low-income people earning less than 3,632 baht a month will also be eligible to pay half-fares from Nov 1, he said.
Students below Mathayom 3 will have to pay a third of the full fare while students studying at Mathayom 3 to undergraduate level will have to pay two-thirds of the fare, Mr Pongchai said.
The free fare scheme, first introduced as a temporary measure some years ago, has been continued by successive governments.