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Title: First public use cycle rail in the British Isles? Post by: grahame on July 06, 2023, 11:50:17 from That's Farming (https://thatsfarming.com/farming-news/velo-rail-kiltimagh/)
Quote A rural County Mayo town in the west of Ireland has opened the country’s first Velo Rail, writes farming journalist, Catherina Cunnane. The Kiltimagh Velo Rail Project – which is the brainchild of IRD Kiltimagh CLG – allows users to pedal along the railway line, which has been repurposed for the activity. The last passenger train departed Kiltimagh Station in 1963, and the track was idle since 1975 up until earlier this month when the project launched. The 15km of railway line has been converted into a tourism resource and outdoor amenity, offering a unique railbike experience, which is believed to be the first of its kind in both Ireland and the UK. The sustainable tourism project, which was launched by Michael Ring on June 9th, 2023, has been delivered by IRD Kiltimagh CLG and supported by Mayo County Council, Irish Rail, Department Rural & Community Development and by Mayo Local Action Group (LAG) under the Rural. IRD Kiltimagh believes that the project, which has been open to the public since Saturday, June 10th, 2023, could bring in the region of 30,000 visitors annually to Kiltimagh, supporting local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry. Title: Re: First public use cycle rail in the British Isles? Post by: Richard Fairhurst on July 06, 2023, 16:32:35 Interesting!
The Gwendraeth Valley Railway in South Wales appear to be making a good fist of trackbed clearance (there are still some very rusty rails down...), with the intention of running both velorail and heritage services. Usually I tend to think of velorail as a neither-fish-nor-fowl compromise that could either be used for a proper cycleway or a proper railway, but given that they are indeed planning a heritage service and there's an excellent cycleway just a mile or so away, the Gwendraeth scheme could be a runner. Title: Re: First public use cycle rail in the British Isles? Post by: Bmblbzzz on July 06, 2023, 20:48:06 Velorail makes me think of a children's book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7133477-secret-railway
Title: Re: First public use cycle rail in the British Isles? Post by: CyclingSid on July 07, 2023, 07:01:15 If velorail are reusing the similar things that used to plague London streets I am all in favour.
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