Source: Rioux, J-P (1989) La révolution industrielle 1780-1880, Paris: Éditions du Seuil.

Evolution of the Railway Network (in km), 1850-1913

From 1830, when the first commercial service between Liverpool and Manchester was established, the size of railway networks grew rapidly. The railroad enabled the exploitation of the resources of vast territories, notably by linking ports to their hinterland. Initially, the port hinterland was accessible only through the fluvial system. The development of railways changed the geography of several port cities. The 1870-1900 period saw the acceleration of rail projects in Europe and North America. For less developed parts of the world such as Africa and South America, the railway system was often a tool of colonial control and appropriation of resources by European powers.