Canefields to ocean to rolling hills: vision splendid of 135km northern NSW rail trail short-changed

Byron, Lismore and Ballina shire councils’ hopes to join the two halves of the northern rivers rail trail were dashed after a joint request for federal funding to complete the 54km missing link was knocked back. Photograph: Tweed Shire Council

There are glow-worms in the old train tunnel if you look hard enough into the deepest, darkest black, Paul Hixon says.

The visitor from Brisbane is cycling the Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section of the northern rivers rail trail with his two daughters, but today he only plans to make it as far as the Burringbar tunnel.