Location:
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Public Transport:
Suitable for:
- Views of the upper reaches of Sydney Harbour and harbourside suburbs
- Connections to scenic walks such as Rhodes foreshore and cycleways, for example to Parramatta and Olympic Park
- Access to Meadowbank TAFE and Meadowbank Park
Nearby Attractions
- Scenic upper harbour foreshore areas and suburbs
- Panoramic views up and down the Parramatta River
Last updated: 28 November 2022
The old Parramatta River Railway Bridge (also called the John Whitton Bridge or Meadowbank-Rhodes Railway Bridge) at Meadowbank was converted for pedestrian and cycle use when the modern railway bridge across the Parramatta River was opened in 2000.
The bridge can be reached from Blaxland Rd, Rhodes or Bay Drive, Meadowbank (on the north side of the river), and by ferry from the nearby Meadowbank wharf. It links Ryde in the north with Homebush Bay and Olympic Park in the south.
Meadowbank Park and Shepherds Bay are immediately north of the bridge; Meadowbank TAFE is nearby. A 3 km shared pathway including a separated cycleway on the road bridge over Parramatta River takes the rider in a loop around Homebush and Shepherds Bays. These are popular areas for walking and exercising and can be very busy.
The former Meadowbank railway bridge
Old and new bridges side-by-side
Adjacent pathways to the east
Trail description board
Do you know of a bike hire or transportation service on this rail trail that should appear here? If so, let us know at admin@railtrails.org.au.
Information and Links
For more information:
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email nsw@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
Traditional owners
We acknowledge the Wallumedegal and Wangal people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.
Development and future of the rail trail
The disused cast iron bridge was opened for pedestrian and cycle use in April 2000. There are no further additions possible to the rail trail, though other cycleways may be added or extended in surrounding areas.
Rail line history
The cast iron bridge was fabricated in England and erected in 1886. The railway through Meadowbank was opened in September 1886. The bridge was built for double track; initially it only carried a single line of rails, but a second track was provided in 1891. It carried trains until 1980 when a parallel box girder railway bridge was opened.
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Nearby Trails
Pippita Rail Trail
19 km west of Sydney, near Sydney Olympic Park
Rosehill to Carlingford Railside Trail
Western Sydney, 23km from Sydney CBD
5 km
Parramatta to Liverpool Railside Trail
25 km west of Sydney CBD
17 km
The Goods Line
2 km from the Sydney GPO
1 km
Como Bridge
20 km south of Sydney
2 km
Lapstone Knapsack Viaduct and Zig-Zag
60 km west of Sydney
1.5 km
Mt Kembla Memorial Pathway
100 km south of Sydney
2 km
Box Vale Tramway Trail
110 km south-west of Sydney, in the Southern Highlands
5 km
Awaba – Wangi Wangi Rail Trail
130 km north of Sydney
Wolgan Valley Rail Trail
Newnes is 190 km West of Sydney
11 km
Fassifern to Toronto Greenway Track
26 km from Newcastle
4 km
Fernleigh Track
135 km north of Sydney, 5km from Newcastle city centre
16 km
Richmond Vale Rail Trail
160 km north of Sydney, 12 km northwest of Newcastle
Pioneer Rail Trail Oberon
180 km west of Sydney
6 km
Glendale to Wallsend Tramway Track
13 km from Newcastle City
8.5 km
2 reviews of “Meadowbank Railway Bridge”
I used to ride across this bridge weekly a couple of years ago. It provides nice views of the western end of Sydney Harbour. Apart from the reused rail bridge there is a good rail-side trail extending to Meadowbank Station in the north to past Rhodes Station in the south, from which other cycleways connect to Sydney Olympic Park and Bicentennial Park and beyond.
I walked this trail this evening with my brother – it is a good use of the rail bridge to cross the Parramatta river, with good connecting trails leading on from both sides.