Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesRestoration of viaduct for East Gippsland Rail Trail underway
The East Gippsland Rail Trail from Bairnsdale to Orbost formally ends at Burn Rd, Newmerella, just 2km short of the old station site near the Snowy River. That gap is about to close as the historic Snowy River Viaduct which crosses the flood plain is returned to use for walking and cycling.
On 21 September, 2024, a gathering of several Orbost locals met at the Burn Rd car park to hear about progress on the restoration of the viaduct.
Thanks to the persistent efforts of a small group of locals over the last five years and with money from several sources, what was only a dream 25 years ago is becoming a reality. The sagging trestle structure is now being levelled, and decaying timber piles repaired using locally sourced timber. A ‘floating’ pathway of perforated synthetic decking will be laid above the original bridge timbers to provide safe and comfortable access for walking, cycling and mobility visitors for years to come.
Handbuilt during WW1 and closed to train traffic in the mid 1980s, this outstanding example of timber railway bridging will be known as the Railway Viaduct Trail, extending the East Gippsland Rail Trail and creating a ‘must visit’ tourism attraction for Orbost.
The photo below is a view of the repaired southern end of the viaduct where it emerges from bushland at Newmerella onto the sweeping vista of the flood plain. The Princes Hwy bridge in the background follows a curving route which mirrors that of the former railway bridge.
More News
The Barossa Marathon on Sunday 23 August was a great success with perfect weather, light winds and a record 3,500 compet...
Heavy rain and subsequent flooding have cut the Southern Flinders Rail Trail in South Australia, 1km north of Stone Hut....
Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC) has closed a section of Victoria’s Bass Coast Rail Trail due to erosion concerns. ...
Great news for rail trail enthusiasts! A construction tender has been awarded to kick off the next phase of the Wadandi ...
One of Australia’s best known cycling regions has introduced a program designed to help visitors in the area ident...
South Australia’s Barossa Council has received an additional $100,000 grant through the Government of South Austra...
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...
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
The Barossa Marathon on Sunday 23 August was a great success with perfect weather, light winds and a record 3,500 compet...
Heavy rain and subsequent flooding have cut the Southern Flinders Rail Trail in South Australia, 1km north of Stone Hut....
Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC) has closed a section of Victoria’s Bass Coast Rail Trail due to erosion concerns. ...
Great news for rail trail enthusiasts! A construction tender has been awarded to kick off the next phase of the Wadandi ...
One of Australia’s best known cycling regions has introduced a program designed to help visitors in the area ident...
South Australia’s Barossa Council has received an additional $100,000 grant through the Government of South Austra...
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...
4 comments on “Restoration of viaduct for East Gippsland Rail Trail underway”
Wow, can't believe this is actually happening. My first and only visit to this trail was many years ago when it was opened at Nowa Nowa, and we rode from the Burns Road end to Bruthen after being dropped off by bus. I always had wished we could have ridden from Orbost itself, and now that might be possible before we shuffle off…using the e-bikes of course!!
It's a big job to restore/ renovate/replace this, so hopefully sometime in 2025 it'll bring a smile to our faces!!
So pleased to see the old trestle being restored. I look forward to travelling with my bike from Ballan to Bairnsdale…by V/Line of course as soon as it's completed and once again riding the trail (third visit)stopping over at Bruthen and for a few days at the quirky motel on the highway at Orbost.
Mike, if you have a spare day, and you haven't been, try a 15km (each way) trip to the quaint seaside village of Marlo.
Cheers
I think that there's going to be unexpected, but welcome publicity when motorists on the nearby Highway catch a glimpse of cyclists riding on the adjacent Railway Viaduct Trail. Tourists and travellers might be lured into Orbost to investigate. Could be an opportunity for a bike hire business as well. Any word on anticipated completion date?