Our History

Railway Paths was established in 1998 in the wake of the privatisation of British Rail. Sustrans (now the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust), the charity developing the National Cycle Network, had previously acquired old railway routes from British Rail on a project by project basis. The idea of transferring a large portfolio of disused railway routes came about as a quicker and simpler way of expanding of the Network. Thus Railway Paths was set up as a focussed organisation, independent of Sustrans, with specialist staff to manage land and structures.

Railway Paths still works closely with its principal leaseholder the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, but is an independent charity, with its own board of trustees. The two charities provide services to each other, charged at cost. The Walk Wheel Cycle Trust provides Railway Paths with on-site support, and Railway Paths provides the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust with estate survey and engineering services.