Friends of New England Rail Trail Inc. (2026)

"A great opportunity is available to our regional communities. An unused public land corridor stretches from Armidale to the Queensland border across some of Australia's most beautiful high country known as New England or the Northern Tablelands. Decades ago railway services ran through the corridor, but they ceased operating and will not resume in the foreseeable future. The population of the Northern Tablelands is relatively low, so the local economy would not support either freight or passenger rail services. The rail infrastructure would cost $hundreds of millions to upgrade for modern, financially viable rail services. Our vision is a staged development of what will become Australia's highest and longest rail trail. This will generate significant local economic activity and provide community health benefits. We invite you to join this exciting journey of rail trail development. Stage 1 will be the 34km Black Mountain to Ben Lomond Rail Trail. Contact - newenglandrailtrail@gmail.com New England Rail Trail Inc. 1401398

10/02/2026

Why are e-bikes booming? 🚲👀
We were pleased to see local newspaper The Armidale Express publish an article this week exploring the rapid rise of electric bikes and what that means for riders of all ages and abilities.

The article (link in comments below) features insights from Armidale local business Bikes on Marsh and highlights how improving technology, better batteries and greater affordability are making e-bikes more accessible than ever. Truly, a bike for everyone!

Towards the end of the article, the potential value of a rail trail in our region was discussed, particularly as a safe, off-road place for people to ride and enjoy cycling away from traffic. 🙋‍♀️🙋

It’s encouraging to see local media recognising how changing technology, active transport and future infrastructure can work together to support healthier, safer and more inclusive ways to get around.

Thank you to The Armidale Express for covering this topic and including the New England Rail Trail in the broader conversation. 🙏

Have you noticed more e-bikes around Armidale lately? 😎

Tara Moriarty MLC Jenny Aitchison MP Chris Minns Brendan Moylan MP Transport for NSW Armidale Express Bicycle NSW

29/01/2026

Fantastic news! As from today, 29/1/26, local company Northern express offers a weekly bus service from Glen Innes to Stanthorpe, linking in with the Crisps Coaches service Stanthorpe to Brisbane return. Additionally, they are now operating a weekly service from Glen Innes to Armidale return, with stops at Guyra, Armidale Visitors Centre, Armidale Airport and the University of New England. For timetables and fares (concessions available), please visit their website at www.northernexpress.com.au. Let’s help get the great news out and support a local business which is now providing a long awaited service. 💫✨ .moriarty .joyce

27/01/2026

Have you ever wondered how active transport projects are assessed for grant funding? 🤔
Decisions made by assessment panels and funding bodies rely on evidence - and one of the tools available for their use is the NSW Active Transport Health Model, released in December 2024 (link to this incredibly powerful document in the comments section below). 🔗 At its core, the Model provides a consistent way to assess walking and cycling projects alongside other major infrastructure investments. It draws on current public health research to understand what happens when communities are given better opportunities to walk and ride. It even provides measurable $ values of health benefits. Very helpful! 💲

The Model examines how new paths and cycle ways influence everyday movement across a population, how increased activity improves health and how that translates into preventative cases of chronic disease over time, including:
✅heart disease
✅stroke
✅Type 2 diabetes
✅several cancers
✅mental health, including conditions such as depression and anxiety.

What’s particularly interesting is the long-term lens. The Model doesn’t just ask “what happens next year?” - it looks across decades, measuring health and economic impacts over the lifetime of a population, with projections extending out over 30 years.
This kind of evidence helps decision makers weigh up where investment delivers the greatest benefit - not just for transport outcomes, but for long-term community health which can in turn also reduce the burden on the NSW public health system.

As we’re already aware, Rail Trails provide an easily accessible, safe public space for all ages and abilities, including the disabled. It’s no wonder that the NSW Government supports them! We just need to keep up OUR support and advocacy while our local councils advance their work under the requirements of the NSW Rail Trails Framework. 💁‍♂️👨‍🦽‍➡️🚶‍♀️👩‍🦯🚴‍♂️🌿

Chris Minns
Tara Moriarty MLC
Jenny Aitchison MP
Transport for NSW
Brendan Moylan MP
Barnaby Joyce

20/01/2026

Good news for Northern NSW! 🌟✨
There’s an exciting update from one of our earlier posts regarding new regional transport options in the New England. The Northern express is now taking bookings for its weekly Glen Innes to Armidale return bus service, with convenient stops at:
🌿Guyra
🌿Armidale Airport
🌿Armidale Visitor Information Centre
🌿University of New England
Services operate Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Timetables, fares and online bookings are now available via their website. Link in comments below.

What’s coming next?
✅A connecting service linking into the Crisps Coaches timetable from Stanthorpe to Brisbane return is currently awaiting Queensland approvals to operate across the border.
✅Special event services
As an example of the flexibility this service offers, Saturday 24 January 2026 (Deepwater Race Day) will feature:
• Departures from Glen Innes at 9:30am and 10:30am
• Return services at 5:00pm and 6:00pm

🚆 A bigger picture of progress:
Alongside the daily NSW TrainLink service between Tenterfield and Armidale return, it’s encouraging to see transport choices across the New England steadily improving — supporting events, education, tourism and everyday travel. Small steps, real connections, stronger regions! 💪

Transport for NSW
Chris Minns
Tara Moriarty MLC
Jenny Aitchison MP
Brendan Moylan MP
Barnaby Joyce

21/12/2025

An opportunity to have your say! 😀🙋‍♀️🙋. We would like to let everyone know that the New England Times are currently running a community survey, open until Christmas, that will interest our followers. Link to the survey in the comments section below. This is the preamble they have published:
"The latest New England Times Engage Poll is now open! Have your say on tourism, roads and transport, and education in your local area. Plus we'll ask you to play Santa and tell us what gifts you would give the New England if there were no restrictions or limitations."

There is a dedicated section concentrating on the New England Rail Trail.

The New England Times have previously publicly stated that there is only a handful of people who support the New England Rail Trail. This is your opportunity to add your voice to the community conversation. 🙏

Address

2350, 2351

Website

https://twitter.com/NERTinc, https://newenglandrailtrail.org.au/

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