Rail Trails Australia has been aware of the enormous potential for wonderful recreational paths in NSW for some time. Whilst there are over 800km of functional rail trails in Victoria for example, there are no public rail corridors available as rail trails in NSW. Increasingly, this situation is seen as inappropriate and a wasteful loss of state resource, especially given the ‘tourism gateway’ status of Sydney and NSW. The international boom of cycle-tourism is lost to NSW – a situation that needs to be rectified.
Rail Trails Australia has now embarked on a directed strategy to encourage the government of NSW to allow the development of rail trails on some of its long-disused transport corridors. Partnerships have been established with state organizations like GoAlliance and BiNSW to further the cause.
GoAlliance is an organization focused on facilitating effective transport and mobility solutions. GoAlliance recognizes that effective and accessible transport choices are essential factors to a vibrant community, economy and environment and to sustain personal wellbeing. Clearly, rail trails form a foundation for community benefit – NSW is currently being denied this advantage.
The Bicycle Institute of NSW (BiNSW) is committed to “creating a better environment for cycling” across NSW. Like Rail Trails Australia, BiNSW realize the enormous potential benefit that NSW is currently unable to capitalize on due to the absence of rail trails.
Recently, a substantial meeting was convened in Wagga Wagga in southern NSW. Rail Trails Australia, GoAlliance and state and local trail supporters gathered and discussed the current situation with local, state and federal politicians. The railway from Wagga to Tumbarumba has been disused for decades. The line is broken in a number of places and there are no plans to return rail services along this corridor. A feasibility study confirms the viability of reuse of this state land as a community resource linear park, a rail trail. One consideration is a pilot rail trail on the section from Wagga Wagga to Ladysmith, which could be the start of the first major regional rail trail in NSW!
Many local, rural and regional organizations are also joining Rail Trails Australia to encourage the NSW state government, in particular the Transport Minister, to allow development of multi-user paths on disused railway corridors. More news following some meetings with the government in Sydney in early July. Hopefully, the wheels can be set in motion to encourage community benefit and develop NSW rail trails.
If you would like to the assist the Rail Trails for NSW Group please leave your name here and we will be in contact shortly
Excitement is mounting as bridge works on the Yarra Valley Rail Trail near Yering in Victoria start to take shape. One o...
The Coast to Vines Rail Trail has a 4 km rural section between the suburb of Seaford Rise and the township of McLaren Va...
The NSW government has responded to a recent question on the possible return to rail services on Great Northern Rail Lin...
Last week the Fraser Coast Regional Council announced that it will request the Queensland Government to contribute $9 mi...
Our judge (a former newspaper travel editor) has selected the best rail trail review from a range of reviews submitted o...
Rail Trails Australia has announced the winners of $10,000 worth of grants designed to assist community organisations to...
Rail Trails Australia’s regional representatives are often testing out ‘their’ rail trails in the regi...
Our vice-president Steven Kaye was interviewed by Nic Healey on ABC radio (Victoria) this week. He discussed how local c...
Get ready to ride the Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) on Saturday, March 29. Cycle Dindi is a fully supported, family ...
Comments on the extension of the Mornington Railside Trail south of Melbourne close Friday 31 January. The draft master...
Transforming a disused railway line into a prized tourist attraction and public space is no easy task. The Summer 2024-2...
Building a shared bridge over busy Toorak Rd on the Outer Circle Rail Trail in Melbourne was not one of the state gove...
Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) and Mareeba Shire Council gathered at Walkamin recently to celebrate the joining of No...
The excitement continues in the Northern Rivers region of NSW with the official opening of Stage 3 of the Northern River...
The Barossa Council has been conducting a cleanup of the Angaston Station precinct on the Barossa Rail Trail. Invasive s...
The duplication of Adelaide’s Main South Rd to Aldinga, and its new shared path, have given users of the Coast to ...
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesExcitement is mounting as bridge works on the Yarra Valley Rail Trail near Yering in Victoria start to take shape. One o...
The Coast to Vines Rail Trail has a 4 km rural section between the suburb of Seaford Rise and the township of McLaren Va...
The NSW government has responded to a recent question on the possible return to rail services on Great Northern Rail Lin...
Last week the Fraser Coast Regional Council announced that it will request the Queensland Government to contribute $9 mi...
Our judge (a former newspaper travel editor) has selected the best rail trail review from a range of reviews submitted o...
Rail Trails Australia has announced the winners of $10,000 worth of grants designed to assist community organisations to...
Rail Trails Australia’s regional representatives are often testing out ‘their’ rail trails in the regi...
Our vice-president Steven Kaye was interviewed by Nic Healey on ABC radio (Victoria) this week. He discussed how local c...
Get ready to ride the Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) on Saturday, March 29. Cycle Dindi is a fully supported, family ...
Comments on the extension of the Mornington Railside Trail south of Melbourne close Friday 31 January. The draft master...
Transforming a disused railway line into a prized tourist attraction and public space is no easy task. The Summer 2024-2...
Building a shared bridge over busy Toorak Rd on the Outer Circle Rail Trail in Melbourne was not one of the state gove...
Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) and Mareeba Shire Council gathered at Walkamin recently to celebrate the joining of No...
The excitement continues in the Northern Rivers region of NSW with the official opening of Stage 3 of the Northern River...
The Barossa Council has been conducting a cleanup of the Angaston Station precinct on the Barossa Rail Trail. Invasive s...
The duplication of Adelaide’s Main South Rd to Aldinga, and its new shared path, have given users of the Coast to ...