Read some interesting discussion on railroad build-outs in early 20th century in China, and its impact on cities.
Before railroads expanded, China’s economy relied a lot of waterways / canals.
Railroads changed the trajectory of cities. Traditional waterborne centers were sidelined and small towns can quickly become new centers, for example,
津浦铁路: Linqing fell; Dezhou rose
京汉铁路: Kaifeng fell; Zhengzhou rose
Additionally, if two railways are built with different standard, they shall create a city, for example,
Shijiazhuang: Zhengtai Railway (metre gauge) intersecting Jinghan line (standard gauge)
Changchun: Chinese Eastern Railway (broad gauge) intersecting South Manchuria Railway (standard gauge).