Why is railway expansion considered a cause of deforestation and not only a transport facility?

Correct answer: Because large quantities of timber were needed for railway sleepers and land was required for railway routes

Railway expansion increased deforestation because enormous quantities of durable timber were required for sleepers placed beneath railway tracks. Land also had to be cleared for laying rail lines, while railways made it easier to transport forest timber to markets and ports. Option C is the closest distractor but is incorrect: railways facilitated, rather than hindered, timber transport. Exam tip: mention both timber for sleepers and land clearance for routes.