Railway Traffic and Some Issues of Urban Areas and Ethnic Cultures

Abstract

This article focuses on a close relationship of three factors: railway traffic, the establishment of urban areas and ethnic cultures. Based on the specific examples of the two railway routes Ha Noi to Lao Cai (Vietnam) and Lao Cai (Vietnam) to Kunming (China), the author points out these railroads have significant impacts to the development and decline of urban centers. The railroads attract the development of many new urban areas along the railway, and as a result of the new settlements, there is a decline in the urban centers that are more distant from the train tracks. New railroad infrastructure has changed the adjacent communities in both positive and negative ways that are along its path.