Spain’s Railway Construction: A Historiographical Analysis
Railway Construction in Spain: A Historical Analysis
This text presents a historiographical analysis, interpreting the reasons behind the appropriateness of analyzed events. The author, Gabriel Tortella, focuses on railway construction in Spain, critiquing the economic and political characteristics of its development and their contribution to Spain’s economic progress.
Following the European reformist line of Enlightened Despotism, several factors hindered progress, including the impact of the War of Independence, the difficulties of liberal reforms, and natural environmental barriers.
Spain endured a destructive civil war that depleted financial resources, and land confiscation policies distorted land reform. The lack of efficient communication hampered the potential stimulus to the industrial revolution that an effective railway network could have provided.
The text discusses why Spain lagged behind in European industrial development. Spain initiated its railway network construction in the 1850s, completing its core by 1864. This rapid pace required significant financial investment, with the state heavily subsidizing the project.
The government’s rationale was to address communication deficiencies, create a cheaper and faster transport system, and stimulate demand for industrial products, leading to higher growth. However, this did not occur due to the rural population’s low purchasing power, sparse population density, and the lack of urban markets along the chosen routes.
The state’s economy suffered due to factors such as the law allowing construction companies to import materials duty-free, hindering the development of Spanish industry, as well as “inadequate funding” and a “weak corporate structure.”
The text refers to a “speculative path” where minimum profitability was not always prioritized.
The width between rails impeded trade with the rest of Europe, indicating “poor planning.”
Once benefits became scarce, railway share values plummeted. In 1866, a European-wide crisis further worsened the situation in Spain.
In 1873, a new stage of network completion began but was subsequently paralyzed.
The text begins with a question that outlines its content: Why did it take so long to build the railway in a country that needed it so much? Spain had economic weaknesses that could have been mitigated with sound policies in building a good railway network, which could have fostered a strong industry and increased the state’s economic power.
The author criticizes the political class for failing to capitalize on the moment and relying on inertia to maintain their privileges and lack of initiative.
It also warns of the negative impact of the economic boom caused by the railway, which diverted state resources, leaving other areas vulnerable.