Hawthorn to Box Hill cycling trail

Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail

Boroondara BUG has been actively campaigning since 1995 for the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail – a shared use path (cycling and walking) that follows the railway line corridor from Hawthorn to Box Hill.

There is currently no safe cycling route in an east west direction through the centre of the Boroondara to connect Box Hill to Richmond.

This interactive map shows the status of sections of the trail and links to other strategic cycling corridors.

The Hawthorn to Box Hill trail would be used by many students to get to their school or Swinburne University. There are over twenty schools and other education institutions either adjacent to the trail or very close to it.

Benefits

The benefits of the Hawthorn to Box Trail include:

  • Encouraging many people of all ages to cycle who otherwise wouldn’t and would greatly improve safety for those who already do.
  • Provide safe local travel for Kooyong residents and others between Hawthorn, Camberwell, Glenferrie Road, Maling Road, Surrey Hills, Mont Albert and Box Hill.
  • Provide vital network connections to:
    • to Box Hill and beyond (the Box Hill to Ringwood Trail).
    • the Main Yarra Trail in Richmond
    • the Anniversary Trail
    • the Koonung Creek Trail to Gardiners Creek Trail (SCC2)
  • Bike trips have zero carbon emissions and reduce pollution.
  • Bike trips reduce traffic congestion – every person on a bike is one less car on our increasingly busy roads.

Strategic Cycling Corridor and feasibility study

The route has been identified as a Strategic Cycling Corridor by the Department of Transport.

The feasibility study for the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail was completed by the Victorian Department of Transport team in October 2021. The study found that the route following the railway alignment was practical and would provide a range of benefits to local communities including safer ways to walk and ride to local places such as shops, business and schools.

Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail feasibility study

You can follow the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail Facebook group to keep up to date on this topic.

Quotes from supporters

Quotes from supporters of the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail are available here.

You can submit your statement of support [here].

Current status

The Victorian Level Crossing Removal project ($650 million) that is replacing level crossings at Union Road and Mont Albert Road is building a one kilometre long section of the Hawthorn to Box Hill Trail.

However, no funding is available for further design or construction work on the remaining nine kilometres.

Residents of Boroondara need this well overdue cycling route. 

Links