Compared with population data, East Africa's railway transport data came out more quickly. After entering the Fourth Five-Year Plan, the fervor for East African railway construction had completely cooled. Apart from upgrading existing lines, only railway mileage in the Northwest Region was growing relatively quickly.
In the field of railway construction, over the past twenty-odd years, East Africa could be said to have brought the advantages of the planned economy system into full play, achieving accomplishments that drew the eyes of the world.
Will, Minister of the East African Ministry of Railways, reported on the relevant situation: "As of 1918, the total railway mileage completed and put into operation nationwide has reached more than 302,700 kilometers, ranking second in the world."
"From the 1890s of the last century through the first two decades of this century was the explosive period of railway growth in our country. Most of the nation's railways were built during this stage."
"Thus, we completed the world's third most developed regional railway network, second only to North America and Europe, supporting the powerful rise of our economy."
North America was undoubtedly the region with the most railway construction in the world. The United States alone had built nearly 400,000 kilometers of railway, a figure exceeding that of every other continent.
Europe, meanwhile, had seen almost no increase in railways due to the war. Yet before the First World War, European railways had already approached 350,000 kilometers. Therefore, even without growth during the war, Europe sat firmly in second place worldwide. Railway density in Western Europe in particular could rival that of the eastern United States.
However, North America did not consist solely of the United States. Countries such as Canada and Mexico had also achieved impressive results in railway construction. Before the First World War, Canada