Highways are as expensive to maintain as railways.

So why is one being abandoned while the other expanded?

These are questions asked by freelance travel writer Ron Brown in his latest book ‘Rails Across Ontario’.

Among many issues, Brown addresses the cancellation of the Northlander train between Toronto and Cochrane.

It was terminated last year as part of the province’s plan to sell ONTC assets.

Brown says the Northlander wasn’t well used so it was shutdown.

But he points out we don’t close northern highways when they’re not heavily travelled.

Brown adds our highways are just as expensive to maintain as rail.

His book is timely as thousands of miles of railway have been torn up and passenger rail service is being cutback.

The local petition to salvage VIA Rail service sits at 3939 signatures as of today on MoveOn.org.

Brown’s book ‘Rails Across Ontario’ is on sale now online.