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Suitable for:- Rail Trail
- On Road
- Potential Rail Trail
- Other Trail
- Former Railway
- Rail Trail
- On Road
- Potential RT
- Other Trail
- Former Railway
- The disused 210k m railway between Armidale and Wallangarra traverses picturesque countryside in the New England Ranges of Northern NSW
- A number of old railway stations have been preserved and refurbished by local community groups
- Tenterfield Railway Station is a museum that houses rolling stock and memorabilia
- The line passes Ben Lomond, and at 1,363 m above sea level, is the highest railway station in Australia
- Wallangarra Station on the NSW-QLD border was the change of gauge station. All buildings and rail lines remain in situ
- Armidale, Guyra, Glen Innes and Tenterfield offer many accommodation and dining options
Nearby Attractions
This Trail is not developed. It is one of 17 potential Rail Trails in NSW.
- Preserved railway stations at Black Mountain, Glen Innes, Deepwater and Tenterfield
- Glen Innes has a replica Stonehenge
- Tenterfield saddlery
- Historic buildings and churches
Last updated: 21 November 2022
Overall description
Section A: Armidale to Black Mountain (33 km)
Section B: Black Mountain to Guyra (10 km)
Section C: Guyra to Ben Lomond (24 km)
Section D: Ben Lomond to Glen Innes (36 km)
Section E: Glen Innes to Deepwater (37 km)
Section F: Deepwater to Tenterfield (55 km)
Section G: Tenterfield to Wallangarra (19 km)
Dumaresq Railway Station (2012)
Guyra Railway station (2012)
Glen Innes Railway Station (2009)
Glen Innes Railway Station (2009)
Glen Innes Railway Station (2009)
Deep cutting out of Tenterfield (2012)
Tenterfield Railway Station museum (2012)
Tenterfield Railway Station (2012)
Another deep cutting on the line (2012)
Deepwater Railway Station (2102)
Remnants of the steam era at Deepwater (2012)
Wallangarra Railway Station (2012)
Information and Links
This Trail is a proposed Rail Trail only at this stage. It is not yet constructed or open.
The railway corridor is owned by the NSW State Government, and trespassing is prohibited.
Armidale Region Council information on the rail trail
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email nsw@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
Traditional owners
We acknowledge the Nganyaywana, Ngarabal, and Gumbainggir people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail will be built.
Development and future of the rail trail
Many years of lobbying by the local New England Rail Trail community group and rail trail support groups have seen the 103 km Armidale to Glen Innes section identified as one of three pilot rail trails that would be supported by the NSW Government.
A feasibility study for the Armidale to Glen Innes section was completed in 2018 and a business case in 2019. In February 2020 Armidale Council allocated funds for design and to look at a management structure. It is hoped Glen Innes Council will shortly do the same.
Rail line history
The Main North line extends from Sydney to the Queensland border at Wallangarra.
It once was the main line to Queensland, with a break-of-gauge at the border. Now the North Coast Line now provides a standard gauge line to Brisbane, and the Main North is disused beyond Armidale.
The section from Sydney to Maitland forms part of the main northern trunk line, and carries various sorts of freight and passenger trains. From Maitland to Armidale, freight dominates, especially coal from the Hunter Valley coalfields. Nevertheless, daily Explorer passenger trains still run from Sydney to Armidale.
Lines to the northwest branch off at the major rail location of Werris Creek.
New England Rail Trail needs your help
Posted: 08/08/19
The New England Rail Trail Committee is ramping up it's efforts to get a rail ...
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650km NorthWest of Sydney
Glenreagh to Dorrigo Rail Trail
570 km North of Sydney
One review of “New England Rail Trail”
This is another great potential rail trail in NSW. The New England region has spectacular rural scenery, and a lot of the old railway line and infrastructure can be seen from the road. As well as having the highest railway station in Australia at Ben Lomond, it also features the historic change of gauge railway station at the NSW/QLD border town of Wallangarra.