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- Rail Trail
- On Road
- Possible Rail Trail
- Other Trail
- former Railway
Part of the Capital City Trail. There are lots of cafes nearby as well as Yarra Bend Park.
All major road crossings have traffic signals.
Many connections with public transport.
Nearby Attractions
A high standard rail trail traversing Melbourne’s inner suburbs. Traverses parkland and quite a few railway heritage structures remain.
Very popular with local residents.
The western end of the rail trail. (2011)
Jogging on the trail at Fitzroy (2007)
North Carlton station is now a Community House. (2006)
Typical scenery (2007)
Information and Links
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email vic@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
Traditional Owners
We acknowledge the Woiworung people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.
Railway history
The Inner Circle was opened in 1888 with three stations: North Carlton and North Fitzroy on the main line, and Fitzroy at the end of a short branch line leading south through the Edinburgh Gardens from a junction near North Fitzroy station. The Inner Circle Line was a steam era suburban railway line that was later electrified.
In 1948 the Inner Circle line was closed to passenger traffic, and was used exclusively for freight trains. The line was officially closed in 1981, and shortly after the rails were removed, and the rail reserve became a linear park which provides part of the Capital City Trail for cyclists, connecting the Merri Creek Trail to the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail in the network of shared use bicycle paths. Some signals and parts of level crossing gates also survive, with remaining overhead stanchions still carrying railway electric current between the Upfield and Mernda railway lines.
2 reviews of “Inner Circle Rail Trail”
17/27. As part of the Capital City loop, we smashed out another old favourite last week, the Inner Circle Rail trail. We did it from from Royal Park to Rushall train stations. It is a straight line, with the only real hill up from Royal Park for a short distance.
At one point on the trail, near Velo Cycles in Carlton North, there is an electronic counter that had registered over 500000 bikes since Jan 1 this year, so they are well on track to record over a million in the full year.
17 trails now completed, only 10 to go for my 2019 challenge is to ride every rail trail in Victoria this calendar year to promote organ donation. You can follow my rail trail exploits on FB Warwick Duncan – The 2nd Chance Man or Insta @warwick_rides.
I was on this trail this morning (Saturday 21st March 2015), from Rushall to Royal Park and back. This is a popular trail for cyclists and walkers – going through great inner suburbs of Melbourne. I’m glad they kept the old train easement a park, as it adds to the attractiveness of the surrounding area. The path is sealed the entire length and there is only one slight hill as you enter Royal Park. Being part of the Capital City Trail there are plenty of bike paths leading off to all parts of Melbourne. There are a lot of activities happening along and off the trail most weekends – as well as plenty of cafe/food options with the nearby streets. The only issue is to watch out for cars as you cross some of the streets, especially towards the Rushall end because there aren’t pedestrian crossing lights.