State Railway of Thailand building station for Thai-Chinese high-speed train in Ayutthaya. Residents support project, but conservation groups concerned about UNESCO World Heritage site. Deputy Minister assures station location and design will minimize impact.
Construction of Thai-Chinese High-Speed Train Station in Ayutthaya
The State Railway of Thailand is set to start building a station for the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project in Ayutthaya province this month. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote announced that construction will run concurrently with the laying of tracks between Map Kabao and Thanon Jira Junction in Ayutthaya. Surapong and his team visited Ayutthaya to inspect the track laying progress and were greeted by residents showing their support for the new station.
Debate Over Station Location in Ayutthaya
While conservation groups have opposed the station project, arguing that it could jeopardize the UNESCO World Heritage site in Ayutthaya, Deputy Transport Minister Surapong assures that the station is situated approximately 1.5 km away from the site, separated by the Pasak River. The station is designed to cater to the needs of locals and tourists visiting Ayutthaya, offering green spaces, ample parking, beautiful landscaping, and other amenities. To address concerns, the SRT and Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Archaeology conducted a heritage impact assessment (HIA) for the high-speed train project, a groundbreaking study aimed at mitigating potential impacts on the ancient city.
