If you think rail trails are just for runners, riders and walkers, the rail trail team in Tumbarumba had a better idea. Why not offer taxi-style rides along the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail (TRRT) on an e-bike, to those unable to do it under their own power?
At the official physical opening and 1st Birthday of the TRRT in April 2021, Rail Trails Australia representative Jeff Ibbotson brought along 2 trioBikes to ferry seniors along the trail. Grant Harris and the local TRRT group immediately saw the potential, and set about acquiring firstly one trioBike and then a second unit, thanks to local Rotary and Lions club support. The fleet of 2 bikes was up and running in September 2021.
The main use of trioBikes is to enable people who cannot make the 21km distance by foot or bike to experience the rail trail and (in many cases) to relive the memories of times gone. Passengers are often senior citizens who once travelled by train between Tumbarumba and Wagga Wagga, and their comments usually are “great scenery, loved every minute, great way to see the trail”. Special events are another source of passengers. Rides are operated at no cost to passengers, thanks to Rotary Club volunteer pilots.
Some additional details: the trioBike Taxi model takes up to 2 passengers plus a pilot. Normally the 42km roundtrip can be done on one battery charge based on a lighter load eastbound after passengers have alighted in Rosewood, but a spare battery is carried just in case. TrioBike outings are accompanied by solo riders to assist with road crossings and general safety.
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Register for news updatesThis week, we received the tragic news that the Mullumbimby railway station on the old Northern Rivers Railway was destr...
If you would like to be able to wheel your bike onto new NSW country trains to get to rail trails please contact the NSW...
The Feasibility Study for the Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail (BGRT) in south west NSW was completed in November 2022. The ...
The iconic Northern Rivers Rail Trail keeps rolling on! On the occasion of the opening of the Casino to Bentley stag...
As part of its ongoing advocacy work and community engagement, the Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail Inc. Group recentl...
The Adelaide to Port Dock railway line was constructed in 1856 to service the passenger and freight movement between the...
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The official opening of the Casino to Bentley stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail was held at the Old Casino Station...
While most of the work extending the Great Southern Rail Trail from Welshpool to Alberton had been completed by the end ...
The long-awaited New England Rail Trail (NERT) stage 1 from Glen Innes to Ben Lomond in northern NSW is now a very big s...
An extension to the Amy Gillett Rail Trail will go ahead after a funding agreement was reached. Stage Four of the Amy Gi...
Riders and walkers will soon have another escape from the very popular Warburton Rail Trail courtesy of a program to cle...
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2 comments on “TrioBikes are a hit on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail”
Hi, I'm interested in the idea of the trioBike for my wife and elderly mother in law. How would we go about making a booking for the bike and how far in advance should we book?
Regards
David Cooper
Hi David – I understand my colleague Alan at Rail Trails Australia has contacted you about this.
The Tumbarumba rail trail group can also be contacted via Facebook/Meta.