How did railway links to Miraflores and other suburbs encourage Lima’s growth?

The construction of interurban railway links to Miraflores, Ancón, and Chosica in the two decades following 1851 provided the essential infrastructure for Lima’s suburban growth. These rail connections transformed the city from a small, compact, and pedestrian-oriented urban center into a more expansive metropolitan area.1

By facilitating easier travel, these railways allowed wealthier residents to physically distance themselves from the lower classes residing in the city center. This demographic shift led these affluent citizens to establish new residential zones by building mansions in and around areas like Miraflores. Consequently, these railway links served as the primary axes for urban development, enabling the city to expand significantly beyond the boundaries of the old colonial walls for the first time.12