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Railway Line
About Railway Line
The now-closed railway line is gradually being transformed into a recreational corridor running through the heart of Grahamstown. Connecting suburb to suburb, it will ultimately serve as the backbone of the trails network, giving access throughout the town and surrounding countryside.
The opening of the railway-line on 3 September 1879 connected Alicedale with Grahamstown and Port Alfred. The construction of the line was part of the massive expansion of the Cape Colony's railway system, that was begun in the 1870s by Prime Minister John Molteno and the Cape Government Railways.
Passenger services were reduced to the Alicedale - Grahamstown section of the line in 1988 and the line was closed entirely in 1990. Service was restored between Alicedale and Grahamstown in 1995 and suspended again in 2008.
Trailhead Captains
Our mayors for this area
Martin D
“Germinator”
Shane C
Eurico M
“TopMarqs”
Trailhead features
- Bike Service1 on the trails
Mechanic available to fix or tune your bike
- Coffee Shop1 on the trails
Café stop before or after your ride
- Dam2 on the trails
Reservoir or dam — worth a stop for the views
- Flow Trail1 on the trails
Smooth, bermed sections — mostly downhill
- Jump2 on the trails
Built jumps and tabletops on the trail
- Parking2 on the trails
Street or off-street parking available
- Railway crossing2 on the trails
Railway level crossing
- Ramp1 on the trails
Wooden or built-up ramps on trail
- Scenic stretch1 on the trails
Especially pretty stretch of the trail
Discover the Trails
Routes starting/ending within Railway Line