Northern Rivers Rail Trail

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The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is a multi-use rail trail in Northern Rivers region of New South Wales which is a walking and cycling trail. [1] It runs through the Tweed and Richmond River Shires and, as at June 2024, is undergoing further extension into areas of Byron Bay and Lismore. [2] When completed, the trail will be 132 km long and it follows the Murwillumbah railway line which ceased train services in May 2004. [3] [4]

Contents

Track details

Section 1: The Tweed section

This section opened in 2023 and is 23 km long and passes through the following towns and villages: [2] [3]

This section uses 18 railway bridges and passes through 2 railway tunnels; these are the Burringbar Range Tunnel and the Hulls Road Tunnel. These tunnels are a habitat for microbat and glowworms and are kept dark so as not to disturb them; visitors are asked to bring torches and dismount when passing through these tunnels. [5] [6] [7]

Views of Mount Warning (Wollumbin) can be seen along long stretches of this track. [3]

Section 2: The Casino and Bentley section

This section opened in March 2024 and is 13.4 km long and it passes through: [8] [9]

Section 3: Lismore

This section will run from Eltham to Bentley and is due to open in late 2024; it will be 31.8 km long. [9] [10]

Section 4: Byron

This section will run from Yelgun to Eltham and is currently in the planning and approval stage; it will be 62.8 km long. [9] [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Fact sheet: Northern Rivers Rail Trail" (PDF). Northern Rivers Rail Trail. 1 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Northern Rivers Rail Trail | The must-do experience in the region". Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Northern Rivers Rail Trail". www.tweed.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Closure of Casino to Murwillumbah Rail Services". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Bridges and tunnels". Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Top tips for exploring the new Rail Trail". www.tweed.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Burringbar Range Tunnel". www.nswrail.net. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Rail Trails Australia". 23 April 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Project and construction". Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Lismore to Bentley section". Your Say Lismore. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Northern Rivers Rail Trail - Byron Shire". www.byron.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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