List of rail trails

Rail trails are former railway lines that have been converted to paths designed for pedestrian, bicycle, skating, equestrian, and/or light motorized traffic. Most are multiuse trails offering at least pedestrians and cyclists recreational access and right-of-way to the routes.[1]

Rail trails around the world longer than 0.1 miles (160 metres) include the following.

Asia

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Israel

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  • The Jerusalem Railway Park

South Korea

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Taiwan

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  • Dongfeng Bicycle Green Way
  • Hou-Fong bike path
  • Tanya Shen Green Bikeway
  • Taolin Bikeway

Europe

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Austria

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A more complete reference can be found at www.bahntrassenradeln.de.[2]

Lower Austria

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Upper Austria

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Salzburg

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Styria

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Belgium

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Czech Republic

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Denmark

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Finland

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France

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France has rail trails with a total length of 6,800 kilometres (4,200 mi) (as at September 2024). More projects are being planned or under construction. These are some of rail trails in France :

Germany

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Germany has 613 rail trails with a total length of 4,400 kilometres (2,700 mi) (as at September 2013). 80 more projects are being planned or under construction. These are some of the longest rail trails in Germany:

Hungary

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Ireland

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In planning/under construction

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Isle of Man

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Luxembourg

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  • Prince Henri railway in Clemency, converted into a cycle track

Norway

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Poland

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Portugal

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  • Ecopista do Rio Minho
  • Ecovia do Rio Lima
  • Ecopista do Tâmega
  • Ecopista do Dão

Slovenia

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Spain

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  • Senda del oso, Asturias
  • Vía Verde de la Sierra (mountain's rail track), Cádiz and Seville
  • Vía Verde de la Sierra de la Demanda, Burgos
  • Vía Verde de Ojos Negros, Valencia and Teruel
  • GIRONA - NARROW-GAUGE RAILWAY ROUTE I - This 57-km route crosses three regions and twelve towns, following the valleys of the Fluvià, Brugent and Ter rivers. The Narrow-Gauge Railway Route descends smoothly from Olot (440 m) to Girona (70 m).
  • GIRONA - NARROW-GAUGE RAILWAY ROUTE II - The Narrow-Gauge Railway Route stretches out 39.7 km. With a smooth incline from Girona to Sant Feliu de Guíxols (15 m), its highest point is at Cassà de la Selva (136 m). Following the old narrow-gauge railway line from Girona to Sant Feliu, you can get to know two of Girona's regions - the Gironès and the Baix Empordà - from the Ter River basin, crossing the Selva depression and ending in the Ridaura valley.

Sweden

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  • Banvallsleden[14] (~ 150 km/93 miles)
  • Sjuhäradsrundan Borås to Ulricehamn(45 km/27 miles)
  • Ätradalsleden Falköping to Ambjörnarp (93 km/ 55 miles)

United Kingdom

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England

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Northern Ireland

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Scotland

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Wales

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Jersey

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In planning/under construction

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North America

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Bermuda

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Canada

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Mexico

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United States

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Oceania

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Australia

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Rails trails of significant length in Australia include:

Name State Length Location Accessibility Ref
Walking Mountain biking Horse riding Touring hybrid cycling Four wheel driving Wheelchair suitable Pram suitable In-line skating and scooters Two wheel drive following Dogs on leash allowed
Munda Biddi Trail Western Australia 1,060 km (660 mi) 20 km (12 mi) west of Perth (northern end point) [22]
Great Victorian Rail Trail Victoria 134 km (83 mi) 110 km (68 mi) north of Melbourne [23]
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Queensland 161 km (100 mi) 70 km (43 mi) west of Brisbane [24]
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail Victoria 116 km (72 mi) 250 km (160 mi) northeast of Melbourne [25]
East Gippsland Rail Trail Victoria 94 km (58 mi) 280 km (170 mi) east of Melbourne [26]
Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail Trail Queensland 89 km (55 mi) 225 km (140 mi) northwest of Brisbane [27][28]
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail Western Australia 82 km (51 mi) 19 km (12 mi) east of Perth [29]
Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra Trail Victoria 74 km (46 mi) 130 km (81 mi) east of Melbourne [30]
High Country Rail Trail Victoria 65 km (40 mi) 300 km (190 mi) northeast of Melbourne [31]
Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Victoria 63 km (39 mi) 190 km (120 mi) east of Melbourne [32]
Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail Victoria 57 km (35 mi) 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Melbourne [33]
Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail Trail Queensland 55 km (34 mi) 190 km (120 mi) southwest of Cairns [34]
Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail Western Australia 54.5 km (33.9 mi) 415 km (258 mi) south of Perth [35]
The Reisling and Rattler Trail South Australia 54 km (34 mi) 130 km (81 mi) north of Adelaide [36]
O'Keefe Rail Trail Victoria 50 km (31 mi) 150 km (93 mi) northeast of Melbourne [37]
Old Beechy Rail Trail Victoria 50 km (31 mi) 152 km (94 mi) southwest of Melbourne [38]

New Zealand

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Pipeline trails

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Trails similar to rail trails can follow other infrastructure, such as water pipelines.

Canal trails

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References

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  1. ^ (PDF) Final Draft July, 2006 The Indiana State Trails, Greenways and Bikeways Plan Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine at Indiana Trails Plan (DNR)
  2. ^ Bahntrassenradeln in Österreich
  3. ^ http://ravel.wallonie.be/opencms/opencms/fr/parcours/itineraires/ravel_2/fiche_0003.html [bare URL]
  4. ^ "Ligne 160: Bruxelles - Tervuren" (in French and Dutch). Retrieved 2007-03-02.
  5. ^ http://www.fodsporet.dk/ (in Danish)
  6. ^ (map with Danish text) Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Vennbahn
  8. ^ "Nordbahntrasse".
  9. ^ "Home". Great Southern Trail. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Home". Great Western Greenway. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  11. ^ Tierney, Declan (4 August 2011). "Old Clifden rail line to be turned into €6m cycle track". Connacht Tribune. Galway. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Redeveloped Rail Track in Dungarvan". 19 January 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Tralee to Fenit Cycle and Walkway". Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  14. ^ "Banvallsleden - på cykel". Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Rail Trails (UK)" (Web). List and details on several trails. LPS marketing. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  16. ^ "BBC - Devon - new Granite Way cycle route links Okehampton to Lydford".
  17. ^ Knights, David (22 September 2016). "Cullingworth councillors check out state of Great Northern RailwayTrail following nearby building work". Keighley News. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  18. ^ "Havant Borough Website - Hayling Billy Trail". Archived from the original on 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  19. ^ "Nidderdale Greenway".
  20. ^ "Spen Valley Greenway".
  21. ^ http://www.fimevic.df.gob.mx/ciclovia/ciclovia.htm Archived 2014-06-27 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish only)
  22. ^ "Munda Biddi Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Great Victorian Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  24. ^ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  26. ^ "East Gippsland Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  28. ^ Mcgrath, Jessica (28 March 2018). "WHAT'S ON: 20 things to do in the South Burnett this Easter". South Burnett Times. News Corp. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Railway Reserves Heritage Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  31. ^ "High Country Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Gippsland Plains Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  35. ^ "Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  36. ^ "The Riesling and Rattler Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  37. ^ "O'Keefe Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  38. ^ "Old Beechy Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.