Rail trail

"Rail park" redirects here. For the rail trail in Philadelphia known as the Rail Park, see Reading Viaduct.

A rail trail or railway walk is a shared-use path on a railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed; in addition, rails with trails share the rail corridor with active railways, light rail or with disused track. As shared-use paths, rail trails are primarily for non-motorised traffic including pedestrians, bicycles, horseback riders, skaters and cross-country skiers, although snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles may be allowed. The characteristics of abandoned railways lend themselves to rail trails and account for their popularity; these include gentle grades, well-engineered rights of way and structures (bridges and tunnels), and passage through historical areas. Many rail trails are long-distance trails, while some shorter rail trails are known as greenways or linear parks.

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