Comment

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 21, 2011 at 9:31pm

A recent storm surge in the Conception Bay area has forced the closure of a local bridge in Seal Cove. Environment Minister Ross Wiseman says the T'Railway Provincial Park structure in the community, known as Indian Pond bridge, is closed to all pedestrian, ATV, snowmobile and vehicular traffic until further notice.

Wiseman reports that that section of the park was damaged by the recent storm surge. The Parks and Natural Areas Division of the Department of Conservation and Environment will continue to monitor the situation. An update will be provided at a later date.

Meanwhile, the department advises that the section of the T'Railway Provincial Park from Gander West to Jumper's Brook has reopened for public use, meaning that the entire T'Railway system west of Port Blanford is now open. However, sections between Thorburn Lake and Port Blanford, and between Clarenville and the Burin Peninsula, remain closed. The department asks users to stay off these sections to accommodate repairs.


Courtesy of Vocm

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 14, 2011 at 7:55pm

ATV trails lose Trans Canada status



The Trans Canada Trail says it will no longer fund or promote trails that allow all-terrain vehicles.

Trail spokesperson Tim Hoskin said shared use trails, as they're known, don't work.

"What we've discovered through this experiment is that on shared use trails, there is considerable user conflict," said Hoskin.

The move comes after contentious debate about ATV use on the national trail system. Many donors felt that ATVs presented a safety hazard. The issue became more complex when Newfoundland and Labrador declared that ATVs were welcome on the trail in that province. Nova Scotia also endorsed ATVs on trails built on its land holdings.

While not outright banning ATVs, the Trans Canada Trail previously agreed that trail organizations would make every effort to route the trail where ATVs were not permitted. It reluctantly agreed to accept ATVs where there was no reasonable alternative.

The Trans Canada Trail said it's vision for the national greenway trail going forward will promote hiking, cycling, and sometimes snowmobiling, but not ATVs.

The decision could have a big impact in Nova Scotia, where about half of the Trans Canada Trail built so far, allows ATVs.

Any part of the trail that allows ATVs and was built before the end of 2009 will still be considered part of the system, but will be designated a yellow trail.

The Trans Canada Trail will only pay for improvements on yellow trails, if the work will help transform them into greenways.

In Nova Scotia, that amounts to 400 kms of trails.

A group that promotes active transportation in the province said not being a full part of the trail will be a blow, both in terms of attracting tourists, and promoting healthy living.

Bob Connell is the president of Nova Scotians Promoting Active-Transportation on Community Trails.

"In effect, what it means is a lost opportunity for Nova Scotians, to be able to realize the benefits of what that would bring to us," said Connell.

There's still 260 kms of Trans Canada Trail to be built in Nova Scotia.

It's up to local trails groups to raise money, build sections of trail and decide who is allowed to use them

The head of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation admits it will now be a challenge for communities to choose between being part of the national trail or allowing ATVs.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/01/24/ns-...

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 14, 2011 at 5:29pm

Trans Canada Trail moves to ban ATVs from future trails.


Trans Canada Trail officials say it will no longer give its money or brand to new sections of trail across the country where summer motorized vehicles like ATVs or dirt bikes are allowed.

The organization dedicated to building a national trail system has locked the gate against all-terrain vehicles.

New guidelines starting April 1, 2011 will promote “greenways” trails meant for non-motorized use during the summer like hiking, walking or cycling and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter.

Trails allowing ATVs that were already registered as part of the Trans Canada Trail system before the end of 2009 — to be called “yellow” trails — won’t be stripped of the brand but will only receive funding from the national group for upgrades to become a greenways trail, for signage or for what’s known as pinch points like a bridge to solve connection problems.

“We would not fund, for instance, maintenance or the surfacing of the trail,” Hoskin said.

Snowmobiles are embraced by Trans Canada Trail because they ride on a blanket of snow and don’t degrade the surface, he said.

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 12, 2011 at 4:19pm

Environment and Conservation
February 8, 2011
Public Advisory: T’Railway Provincial Park Reopens
from Long Harbour to Goobies

The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, advises the public that the section of the T’Railway Provincial Park from Long Harbour to Goobies (Burin Peninsula Highway underpass) has been reopened for public use.

Construction is currently ongoing in the remaining closed sections of the T’Railway from Jumpers Brook to Goobies. For safety reasons, the public is asked to refrain from using the T'Railway until the repairs have been completed and the sections have been reopened. The minister is also asking the public for their continued patience while work is ongoing.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 12, 2011 at 4:16pm

Newfoundland T'Railway Council
195 Elizabeth Drive, Unit 7
Gander, NL A1V 1H6
Canada
709-256-8833
Trailway.ca

The Newfoundland Trailway Council
The Newfoundland T'Railway Council is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the development of a
recreational trail from St. John’s to Port aux Basques using the former Canadian National railway line. Its
mandate is to promote multi-use trail development and to preserve abandoned railway lines for future
use such as hiking, biking, equestrian, snowmobile, ATV and cross-country ski trails. Other uses like
dog sledding and snowshoeing may be appropriate in certain regions. Known as the Newfoundland
T'Railway Provincial Park, the rail bed route extends for 883 km (548 miles) linking urban, rural and
wilderness areas. The park forms the Newfoundland section of the Trans Canada Trail stretching from
St. John's to Victoria, BC and to Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. When complete the Trans Canada Trail will extend
for more than 17,000 km, the longest continuous trail in the world.



T'Railway

The T'Railway Provincial Park stretches almost 900 kilometres from St. John's to Port aux Basques along the main line of the old abandoned Canadian National railbed. This island-long Park corridor provides access to many of the Island's representative natural and scenic landscapes. The Park also serves as an historical link to our past railway heritage because most of the original railbed, trestles and bridges remain intact. All are reminiscent of the architectural and engineering technology of the day.


All terrain vehicles and snowmobiles will be permitted on designated sections of the T'Railway for access and year round enjoyment. Hiking, scenic touring and nature observation will be encouraged and promoted especially to residents and visitors to the Province.

The Newfoundland T'Railway is a part of our heritage and the preservation of its cultural and natural values for future generations is now secure. On June 29, 1898, the first passenger train traveled from St. John's to Port aux Basques; a journey that took some 28 hours to complete. From that day, and until its decommission in September of 1988, many residents and tourists have traveled this route; a journey of adventure and natural beauty that has become a topic of Newfoundland writers and musicians. The adventure and natural beauty can still be experienced; where once a railway ran a park now stands.

Newfoundland T'railway Council
The council represents the six core user groups of the Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park. These groups are, hikers, bikers, horse back riders, cross country skiers, ATV's, and snowmobilers. The council also conducts upgrade work on the T'Railway and is responsible for resurfacing major portions of the former rail bed and the re-decking of many trestles. This work will continue until the entire T'Railway is completed. The council also works closely with the Parks and Natural Areas Division on promotion and educational initiatives. For more information on the council click Newfoundland T'Railway Council.

"Our" Trail
The last of the rails came up in 1990, but you won't find much grass growing on the trail. It is now a multi use recreational trail enjoyed by Newfoundlanders and visitors of all age groups. Around communities the T'Railway provides access for people on foot and on bicycles. People use the rail bed to reach new fishing spots, to watch for birds, or just to enjoy the quality time in the wilderness. In winter snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are also popular. As the T'Railway is developed it will create new opportunities for tourists and tourist-related business such as adventure tourism, bed and breakfasts, and guiding services.

To make the most of this opportunity a wide variety of people must work together.

Comment by Peter Emberley on February 12, 2011 at 4:04pm

Trailway Map

Comment by Peter Emberley on January 9, 2011 at 9:02pm

A southern Newfoundland community has opened its roads to all-terrain vehicles for at least a year.

All the rules of the road apply to ATVs, and if ATV-drivers don't respect them, their freedom to use roads will be revoked in 2012.

The mayor of Garnish hopes the change will improve safety in the town on the Burin Peninsula, where it's estimated there are as many ATVs as there are cars.

Garnish is the gateway to a popular ATV trail in the area. Until Jan.1, riders had to load their ATVs onto a truck to get to the trail, but Noseworthy said too many riders were just driving to the trail on the town's streets anyway.

"Well, some of the ATVs, because they were sneaking around to avoid the police, were going around at night with no headlights on, and sometimes at super-fast speeds because they didn't want to have that chance of being caught," said Garnish Mayor Reuben Noseworthy.

He hopes that being more welcoming to ATVs will make Garnish more attractive to tourists.

"So what were looking forward to is that people will come to Garnish and will part with some of their money in our stores and businesses and will use Garnish as the starting point to their trail rides," he said.



Courtesy of CBC News



What do you think of this move?

Comment by David on November 25, 2010 at 7:27pm

Public Advisory: T’Railway Provincial Park From
Public Advisory: T’Railway Provincial Park From Millertown Junction to Goobies Closed to Public:


http://www.westernsnoriders.com/wsrforum/showthread.php?99-Public-A...

Comment by Peter Emberley on November 4, 2010 at 10:19pm

It seems, one of the main topics the last few days on the openline shows is atv use in CBS. Woody French says he will not walk on the track because it is too dangerous. Why? Dirt-bikes flying around, people racing around on quads.



Well I also ride that trail from time to time and I can tell you, I DO NOT RACE AROUND or any one that is with me.



That railway bed is supposed to be part of the great Cross Canada Trail.



Why is it in Newfoundland and Labrador, some people are dead set against any type of recreation. Hunting, oh what a sin, killing Bambi and his friends. Targa, shocking teaching our youth to race around our highways. Motorcycles, hoodlooms cruising our streets. Snowmobiles, drunks showing off. God forbid you should own an atv, you are the worst and lowest scumbag in the province.



People say there is a problem in CBS with atvs and dirtbikes. I see an easy fix. Place a speed limit on the railway bed. Max out at 25km/h from Manuals to Holyrood. Lower it to 10km/h around walkers, homes, schools and populated areas, and POLICE IT. The RNC are riding snowmobiles in the winter in the Goulds. Why can't they ride atvs in the summer on the atv trails? I don't know why the RNC don't, anyone else know why?



Just imagine the revenue that could be generated from organized atv riding in CBS.



The people in this province, like myself who owns an atv, need to stand up and let there voices be heard. Not next year, NOW, next month could be too late. Its too late when the ban is in place.



AND YOU CAN BE SURE OF THIS, EVERYWHERE THE RAILWAY CROSSES INTO A COMMUNITY, THAT PART OF THE RAILWAY WILL BE CLOSED TO ATVS AND SNOWMOBILES!



So get off your arse and lets form The Newfoundland & Labrador ATV Federation.



I am sick and tired of listening to this crap!!! .

Comment by Peter Emberley on August 30, 2010 at 10:01pm

August Run

Day is done, time to go home.(Pics from southern shore railbed)

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