Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesNSW is getting closer to having another rail trail
The NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has announced a $75,000 funding boost towards the Richmond Vale Rail Trail Project, west of Newcastle in NSW.
The money will go to Cessnock City Council to assist it in progressing a Development Application and other documentation for the project covering the Cessnock and Lake Macquarie sections. With designs for the City of Newcastle council area section already finalised, the new funding will allow concept designs and associated reports to be completed for the whole trail.
Cessnock City Council General Manager Lotta Jackson thanked the NSW Government for their support. “This project is identified under the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan as a high priority. This funding will allow Council to engage a specialist consultant to undertake a series of tasks that will be crucial to the success of the project overall.”
The 32-kilometre Richmond Vale Rail Trail is proposed to run along the former Richmond Vale rail line between Kurri Kurri and Hexham, and along the former Chichester to Newcastle water pipeline between Shortland and Tarro. The shared pathway would provide a link for cyclists between Kurri Kurri, Tarro, Minmi and Shortland that would enable them to undertake journeys without having to ride on the Pacific Motorway, Hunter Expressway or New England Highway.
The line was originally a private railway developed to transport coal from the Hunter Valley’s mines. It closed in 1987. Like the other major Newcastle rail trail, the Fernleigh Track, which was also previously a private coal line, the Richmond Vale line does not require an Act of Parliament to enable it to be turned into a rail trail. (Act of Parliaments are required to officially close a public railway in NSW and open it up for rail trail conversion.)
More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
On Friday 19 June 2026 a new shared path connecting the Bass Coast Rail Trail to Inverloch was officially opened with a ...
Calendar of Events
See upcoming eventsNews Archives
Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesFeatured Articles
Celebrating RTA’s Volunteers
26/05/25
More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
On Friday 19 June 2026 a new shared path connecting the Bass Coast Rail Trail to Inverloch was officially opened with a ...