Location:
Length:
Surface:
Start / End:
Public Transport:
Suitable for:
- A short trail of 25 km, making it suitable for day trippers as well as locals
- Both Broken Hill and Silverton would benefit economically from this trail
- Ecotourists would be attracted to this unique trail
Nearby Attractions
- Visit the real Outback of NSW
- Line of Lode Miners Memorial
- Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum
- Broken Hill Sculptures and Living Desert Sanctuary
- Pro Hart Gallery
- Royal Flying Doctor Service
- White’s Minerals and Mining Museum
- Mad Max Museum at Silverton
- Silverton Hotel
Last updated: 19 November 2022
A short section of this trail is open at the Silverton end.
A couple of small bridges have been restored for walkers and bikes.
Mountain bikes are recommended, as it is rough and sandy in sections.
Section Guides
Broken Hill to Silverton (25 km)
This trail would run through outback countryside, mainly paralleling the road between the two sites.
Broken Hill is a large regional city with plenty of food and accommodation.
Silverton Ticket Office (May 2014)
Missing Bridge near Silverton (May 2014)
Railway Crossing in Silverton (May 2014)
Sturt's Desert Pea at Broken Hill Railway Station (May 2014)
Missing bridge
Interpretive at Silverton
Old water tank at Silverton
Broken Hill yard
Silverton Station
Old bridge remains
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
This trail is only partially open at this stage.
The railway corridor is owned by the NSW State Government, and trespassing is prohibited
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email nsw@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
Traditional owners
We acknowledge the Wiljali people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail will be built.
Development and future of the rail trail
As of June 2021 there is no active committee trying to lobby for the construction of a rail trail on this disused corridor. Rail Trails Australia views this as a viable potential rail trail, and would be keen to support any person or group to lobby for its construction.
If you are interested, contact us at
ns*@ra********.au
Rail line history
This was part of an old private narrow-gauge tramway between Cockburn and Broken Hill, owned by the Silverton Tramway Company. It was built in 1888 to transport ore from the Silverton mines to Port Pirie, SA and extended to Broken Hill when minerals were discovered there.
The NSW Government completed a standard-gauge line direct from Broken Hill to Cockburn in 1970. This led to the demise of the privately owned Silverton line and it closed to rail traffic shortly thereafter. The ownership of the rail corridor was returned to the Crown, with some sections sold off to adjacent landholders.
One review of “Broken Hill to Silverton”
This trail is in remote country. I think it would only be suitable for experienced mountain bike riders.