An inter-agency working team will be formed to design the new Ayutthaya train station for the high-speed rail project so that it will reflect the historical value of the one it will replace, the Fine Arts Department says.
Even though the existing station is not part of Ayutthaya's inner historical precinct declared as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it holds deep historical significance, having been built during the reign of King Rama V when railways were first introduced to the country, according to Pratheep Pengtako, the department's director-general.
His remarks followed a meeting on the issue with the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) chief and transport permanent secretary, Chayatham Promsorn.
Planners say the high-speed rail link from Bangkok to Nong Khai via Nakhon Ratchasima requires a new station to be built to meet commercial development needs.
Mr Pratheep said the primary concern was that if the new train station was built in a way that did not reflect the design of the present one, it might compromise cultural integrity and adversely affect the city's World Heritage status.
He said Unesco has written to his department expressing concern about the station. It asked that measures be devised to cushion the impact of the high-speed rail project on the World Heritage Site.
The meeting yesterday initially agreed to reduce the size of the new station and keep its design simple but highly functional. This should take priority over the development of the station's commercial space.
A working team from related agencies will be set up to work on the new design and the commercial space.
Mr Pratheep, as secretary of a sub-committee overseeing the World Heritage Site, said he would raise the Ayutthaya station issue with the country's main committee chaired by Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome today.
The issue was also bought to public attention by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob who said the DRT has been in touch with the Fine Arts Department to discuss the issue.
The Transport Ministry, meanwhile said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will preside over the signing of "Contract 2.3" with China on Oct 28 on key portions of the rail project.
Contract 2.3 is one of seven railway contracts under the Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed train project and is considered the most important as it will cover essential stops and run on an advanced operation system.
The project's first phase covers a 253-kilometre stretch from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima.