Railway development from the Japanese occupation period to the present – using Kaohsiung city as an example​​​​​​​​

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study intended to discuss the interactive influence of the emergence, transformation and decline of the railway in Kaohsiung Port on urban development, the population, the activities and the economy in the region during the period of 1895–2010, from the perspectives of urban planning, railway development, population and industry. This study used the crossover analysis method, and used the factors of railway development and urban planning, within a fixed time period, to explore the chain dependence relationship among the industry, the population, the regional economy and the railway stations in Kaohsiung city. This study found that urban planning, economic development, railway development and industry have an interactive influence on the overall urban development. Urban planning promotes the rapid growth of the population, and economic development propels the growth and shaping of the regional economy, thus increasing employment opportunities. In addition, the railway development process moves forward with urban development.