Have your say
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek
Bentley to Casino
About the trail
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is proposed to connect Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Bangalow, Lismore and Casino.
When completed the trail will be 130 km long and pass through some of the most scenic countryside in New South Wales.
A drawcard for walkers, hikers, runners and cyclists, the trail follows the old North Coast railway line. It will offer a unique way to explore the region while helping to preserve the area’s history and heritage.
Click to view map of the rail trail
Tweed section: Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek
Latest news
Community invited to talk Rail Trail
Two public 'in-person' information sessions about the Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section of the proposed Northern Rivers Rail Trail are taking place in March.
The 'in-person' sessions will be held in Burringbar at the School of Arts hall:
- Monday 1 March, from 1pm to 4pm
- Thursday 11 March, from 2.30 to 4pm
Council's Rail Trail Project Director Iain Lonsdale will be joined by key project team members to provide an update on the project's progress.
These events follow 4 online sessions that were attended by more than 70 people in February.
Watch videos about the project at yoursaytweed.com.au/RailTrail.
Latest media release:
The Tweed section of the rail trail will start in Murwillumbah and end in Crabbes Creek. It includes the heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station and historic bridges.
- 24 km
- 18 historic railway bridges, including 5 heritage
- 2 tunnels
- scenic rural landscape
Connecting the larger hub of Murwillumbah to Tweed villages, the trail winds through Stokers Siding, Burringbar and Mooball. It will provide an off-road transport route for residents and visitors.
Passing through the countryside, the trail will be a gravel surface. The section between Murwillumbah Railway Station and the Tweed Regional Art Gallery will be asphalt.
Funding
Construction of the Tweed section of the rail trail has been jointly funded thanks to:
$7.8 million NSW Government
$6.5 million Australian Government
An additional $600,000 has been secured from the NSW Government to cover the cost of operating and maintaining the Tweed section of rail trail for the first 3 years.
Timeline and construction
Design and construction is being managed by Tweed Shire Council.
| January 2021 |
Preliminary works |
| February 2021 |
Community information sessions |
| April 2021 to December 2022 |
Construction of the trail |
| December 2022 |
Trail opens |
Project timeline (PDF)
Construction of the other sections of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail will be project managed and scheduled by their respective councils. See Bentley to Casino.
Video: Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek (2:30 mins)
Northern Rivers Rail Trail
Have your say
Learn more about the project and have your say at Your say Tweed.
Interested in building a business around the rail trail?
If you're interested in building a business around the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail please register online.
Local councils working together
The completed trail will pass through 4 local government areas:
- Tweed Shire
- Byron Shire
- Lismore City
- Richmond Valley Shire
Bentley to Casino section
Construction of the Bentley to Casino section is being managed by Richmond Valley Council. Funds have been secured for this 13.5 km section of the trail, which is likely to be constructed at the same time as the Tweed section, or soon after.
| Byron Bay |
Initial investigations and studies underway |
| Lismore City |
Priority project, seeking grant funding |
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
Tourism on neighbouring Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) is going from strength to strength. The BVRT is a great example of what can be achieved through community and government support.