日治時期臺灣總督府的鐵路發展政策1895-1945

Railway Development Policy of Taiwan Governor's Office during the Japanese-ruled Period, 1895-1945

日治時期，臺灣總督府自始即十分積極地推行近代化政策。其中，近代交通設施的導入，對於臺灣的社會、經濟帶來重大的影響。交通的發展中，尤以鐵路最為重要，在殖民統治的過程中扮演十分重要的角色。臺灣總督府的鐵路發展政策，配合統治政策而有階段性的變化。鐵路事業的發展趨勢，也因而產生明顯的分期，大致可分為建主改從時期（1895－1926）、改良時期（1927－1936）、戰爭時期（改主建從時期）（1937－1945）三階段，各個時期皆有其發展重心與特色。鐵路的功能，由最初滿足軍方接收臺灣的需求，轉為開發臺灣、促進臺灣社會經濟發展，以迄進入戰爭時期支援戰時國策之需求，在在皆呈顯鐵路政策係配合臺灣總督府政策或日本帝國的整體國策，具一定程度的從屬色彩。也因此，鐵道部時常難以依本身規劃推進事業，使臺鐵的建設與改良工程，呈現先天不良（速成主義）、後天失調（改良事業失之敷衍）的窘狀。職是之故，體質不良的臺鐵，為臺灣社會帶來「開拓之功」的同時，也流露出其作為「文明的先趨」的侷限性。

The Taiwan Governor's Office had been endeavoring to perform the policies of modernization since the very beginning of the Japanese-ruled Period. Introducing the modern transportation made a great impact to the society and economy of Taiwan. Especially, the railway was one of the most important transportation industries, which also played an important role in the process of the colonial ruling. The Railway development strategy of the Taiwan governor's office was varied in terms of the ruling policies. Therefore, the trends in the railway development were distinctly divided to three phases: the period of construction at first and then improvement 1895-1926, the period of improvement 1927-1936, and the period WWII (improvement firstly and construction secondly) 1937 -1945. There were distinctive milestones in development during each phase. The railway was to satisfy the demand of the military authorities at first, and then turned into to the role of the society and economy of Taiwan for supporting the demand of war. It apparently showed the policy in terms of the General Governor of Taiwan or Japanese Empire to some extent. Therefore, the Railway Administration of Taiwan couldn't proceed its plans ahead as expected, which Taiwan railway construction become worse. Therefore, Taiwan railway even resulted in prosperity which has the functional limitations as a pioneer of civilization.