一般都認同鐵道對經濟發展有相當大的幫助，特別是以持發展觀點的現代化論者爲然。本文延續吳聰敏與盧佳慧（2008）的討論，分析沒有縱貫鐵道經過的市鎮（以下稱爲「非沿線市鎮」）如何被整合進島內統一市場圈？本文以大溪與南投爲案例，顯示當現代交通網絡建立之後，人力輕便鐵道與私設鐵道快速取代人力肩挑，沿山市鎮的連結對象從港口市鎮轉爲縱貫鐵道車站。以上的改變降低了米穀運輸成本，帶動整體運輸量擴張；此外，不同市鎮的米價差異逐漸縮小，「非沿線市鎮」的價格逐漸趨近於縱貫鐵道經過的沿線市鎮，「非沿線市鎮」彼此間亦將逐漸趨於一致，島內統一市場圈於是形成。

Past studies on the economic history of Taiwan have argued that the formation of a modern transportation system during the Japanese colonial era promoted market integration of the cities close to the north-south railway line. In this paper, we will explore further these issues focusing on how the non-station areas were integrated into the Taiwan economy. We find that: (1) local railway systems decreased trade costs and interregional price gaps between non-station areas and station areas, and non-station areas and non-station areas. (2) the formation of a modern transportation system including the north-south railway line and local railway systems increased interregional trade.