Rail Trails follow the routes of old, disused railways. The rails are usually removed when a railway is closed, but remnants of the past such as railway cuttings and bridges still remain. Because railway engines were not good at climbing hills or making sharp turns, the lines were graded into sweeping curves and gentles inclines and declines. To achieve this, cuttings were built through hills, tunnels under roads and bridges over embankments and across gullies and creeks. The steepest grade of a railway line is never more than 1 in 30.
Railtrails Australia has resurfaced several of these disused trails from their abandoned state of rough rocks and rubble, grown over by grass into fine gravel and sand. These ‘Rail Trails’ are now perfect pathways for cycling, riding and walking, in many cases accessible to those with limited mobility and to pushchairs and wheelchairs. The only downside is that they are, obviously, linear so you have to make an out and back trip or shuffle transport.
Of the states, Victoria has the most developed rail trails, with 12 in the Melbourne metropolitan area, 11 in Gippsland, 10 in the Northern part of the state and 10 in the Western districts. They range from just a few kilometres to 94km (The East Gippsland Trail from Bairnsdale to Newmeralla) and 97km (The Murray to Mountains Trail from Wangaratta to Beechworth and Bright). The guide book ‘Rail Trails of Victoria and South Australia‘ provides maps, surface descriptions, gradient profiles information on access points and facilities for 26 trails. Some trails, for example the Great Southern Rail Trail and the Bass Coast Rail Trail are close enough to be combined into a weekend bike tour.