Doomed stations are part of our heritage

While the country observes Thai heritage day tomorrow, it’s ironic that we have to watch a lot of our heritage slip away. That includes the old railway stations that are headed for an upgrade under the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) double-track development plan.

Conservationists cried foul as the demolition work began this week on some of the 15 old stations on the 187-kilometre route linking Chira-Khon Kaen in the northeast which were bulldozed for the extension work to begin this month. Many more are set to be dismantled when the double track projects go ahead full-scale either later this year or next year.

In response to a public outcry, the cash-strapped SRT admitted it has no conservation plan regarding the old stations and no money for it. The agency said it’s too late to think about conservation now, as they cannot allow the double-track projects to be delayed.

The best it can do, the SRT said, is to keep some of the old stations.

And since the SRT does not have a plan, we have no idea which stations will be spared.

This is reminiscent of when we lost the beautiful Rangsit station on the outskirts of Bangkok and the main Chachoengsao station in the eastern part of Thailand years ago. We do not want history to repeat itself.

It is important to note that the conservationists do not oppose the double-track development project. They are aware the extension is important for the country. But let’s do the right thing. Parinya Chukaew, who spearheads the conservation campaign, said it is fully understandable if those stations need to be removed to pave the way for the double-track construction. But the best way forward, he said, would be to design the new buildings in harmony with the old structures, which is technically possible. That way the structures can continue to be part of our heritage.

The academic, who teaches architecture at King Mongkut’s University of Technology, said preserving old stations The elegant Hua Hin railway station is a charming sight for tourists and passengers. Other stations of the same age are doomed to be demolished.

is common worldwide. He said the Thai stations can be relocated anywhere and given some other function, such as using them as a meeting place or office — just don’t let them die.

Due to his relentless efforts, the main Khon Kaen station has been saved. Local scholars have pitched in and they have a plan to knock down and rebuild the station on another plot.

Eventually, the SRT agreed to give a chance to local administration offices that wish to play a role in saving the stations. However, the local administration would have to take care of financial matters, the SRT said.

Some conservationists welcomed the

move. In my opinion, that is not good enough, but perhaps it’s the best possible compromise we can hope for.

I wish the SRT would encourage and convince local agencies to engage in the conservation effort. The campaigners have to work against time and reach out to as many local agencies as possible to convince them of the need to save these structures with such historical value.

In any case, the SRT still deserves some credit in making the conservation possible. It should be praised for giving the nod to some local administration agencies and civic groups to renovate monumental structures like Mae Phauk station in Phrae, which has just won a

conservation award.

While the SRT tries to be helpful, other state agencies pretend not to see the problem. It is a disappointment that the Fine Arts Department, whose duty is to preserve our national heritage, has completely distanced itself from the issue.

The department tersely turned down a call to become part of the conservation effort, especially of one doomed station on the Chira Junction-Khon Kaen route, although some local Fine Arts officials are willing to take part.

In fact, the department said those structures do not hold any value, which is unfortunate.

The department’s stance may perhaps

stem from its narrow definition about its duties, confining their work to palaces, temples and archaeological sites. That is not right.

Perhaps SRT engineers don’t have the sense to recognise the aesthetic value of the old railway stations. But the Fine Arts Department does not have the luxury to use that excuse and stay out of the issue, as it is doing right now.

It’s necessary for the department to review its role or we won’t have much left of our heritage. And they must do so before it’s too late.