Since the Age of Exploration, the prosperity of commerce has become inseparable from ports. A good port can better promote economic development, with populations gathering along the coast. The Industrial Revolution brought the rise of railway transportation, greatly enhancing land transport capabilities, allowing inland areas to develop as well.
However, this development is far more restrictive compared to maritime transport. Railway construction is constrained by various factors, which also leads to disputes between regions. Areas through which railways pass can stimulate regional economic growth and even create new cities, but if a railway does not pass through, even ancient cities might decline as a result.
"In many parts of East Africa, railways came first, followed by settlements. These villages and towns formed along the railway, if the railway does not fall into disuse in the future, are likely to continue to prosper."
