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.
A more complete reference can be found at www.bahntrassenradeln.de. [8]
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 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:
Rails trails of significant length in Australia include:
Name | State | Length | Location | Accessibility | Ref | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
Munda Biddi Trail | Western Australia | 1,060 km (660 mi) | 20 km (12 mi) west of Perth (northern end point) | ● | ● | [29] | ||||||||
Great Victorian Rail Trail | Victoria | 134 km (83 mi) | 110 km (68 mi) north of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | [30] | ||||
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail | Queensland | 161 km (100 mi) | 70 km (43 mi) west of Brisbane | ● | ● | ● | [31] | |||||||
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail | Victoria | 116 km (72 mi) | 250 km (160 mi) northeast of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | [32] | |||||
East Gippsland Rail Trail | Victoria | 94 km (58 mi) | 280 km (170 mi) east of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | ● | [33] | ||||||
Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail Trail | Queensland | 89 km (55 mi) | 225 km (140 mi) northwest of Brisbane | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | [34] [35] | |||||
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail | Western Australia | 82 km (51 mi) | 19 km (12 mi) east of Perth | ● | ● | ● | [36] | |||||||
Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra Trail | Victoria | 74 km (46 mi) | 130 km (81 mi) east of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | [37] | ||||
High Country Rail Trail | Victoria | 65 km (40 mi) | 300 km (190 mi) northeast of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | [38] | |||||
Gippsland Plains Rail Trail | Victoria | 63 km (39 mi) | 190 km (120 mi) east of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | ● | [39] | ||||||
Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail | Victoria | 57 km (35 mi) | 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | [40] | |||||||
Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail Trail | Queensland | 55 km (34 mi) | 190 km (120 mi) southwest of Cairns | ● | ● | ● | [41] | |||||||
Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail | Western Australia | 54.5 km (33.9 mi) | 415 km (258 mi) south of Perth | ● | ● | ● | [42] | |||||||
The Reisling and Rattler Trail | South Australia | 54 km (34 mi) | 130 km (81 mi) north of Adelaide | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | [43] | |||||
O'Keefe Rail Trail | Victoria | 50 km (31 mi) | 150 km (93 mi) northeast of Melbourne | ● | ● | ● | [44] | |||||||
Old Beechy Rail Trail | Victoria | 50 km (31 mi) | 152 km (94 mi) southwest of Melbourne | ● | ● | [45] |
Trails similar to rail trails can follow other infrastructure, such as water pipelines.