Thailand Increases Intercity Bus Fares Due to Rising Diesel Costs

On September 11, 2026, the Central Land Transport Control Committee approved an increase in bus fares for Category 2 (Bangkok to provinces) and Category 3 (inter-provincial) routes. According to Khaosod Online Thailand, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) confirmed that fares will rise by 0.03 baht per kilometer per seat. For example, a 100-kilometer journey will cost an additional 3 baht per passenger.

Sorapong Paitoonphong, Director-General of the DLT, explained that the adjustment is a direct response to fluctuating diesel prices. The current price of diesel has reached 39.84 baht per liter, significantly exceeding the 34 baht per liter baseline used during the previous fare adjustment. The committee cited the need to cover rising energy costs to ensure that intercity public transport services remain sustainable and maintain service quality for passengers traveling between Bangkok and other regions.

This marks the sixth adjustment since April 2026, as the DLT continues to manage fare rates in alignment with fuel price volatility. While the decision has been finalized by the committee, travelers should verify specific ticket prices with bus operators or at terminals, as the exact implementation date for the new fare structure was not explicitly detailed in the initial announcement.