Forgotten Railways: Exploring Europe’s Abandoned Train Routes

Europe’s train routes are considered by many to be some of the best in the world, from the bustling London underground to the rural northernmost Scandinavian lines. But over history, with the construction of such an extensive network, certain sections have inevitably fallen into disuse and been abandoned. While many of these deserted lines and stations have been simply left to become reclaimed by nature, a certain few have been repurposed into new infrastructure that benefit locals and tourists alike.

Trans Pennine Trail, UK

Rail trails in the UK became widespread after the Beeching cuts in the 1960s, a programme of widespread railway closures that decommissioned around 5000 miles of train lines across the country. Formed of many of these disused train lines, running between Southport and Hornsea to create a path that connects the Irish Sea to the North Sea, is the Trans Pennine Trail. This winding route with many deviations and loops, forming a total of 370 miles of track across the country, is mostly composed of canal towpaths and abandoned railway lines, repurposing unused infrastructure and producing a unique way to explore the English countryside. These pathways- open to walkers, cyclers, and horse riders- vary from flat coastal routes to hilly inland hikes.

RAVeL network, Belgium

Prior to World War II, Belgium owned the densest railway system in the world, with approximately 6,200 miles of train and tram tracks. Much of this network became abandoned after the war due to the rise in popularity of cars and the country’s investment in road infrastructure. In the 1990s, the government began converting these disused tracks into pathways, forming the RAVeL (Réseau autonome des voies lentes, ‘autonomous network of slow ways’). This network of routes throughout the Walloon region was created with the goal of providing pathways for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, those with reduced mobility, and even rollerbladers!

Banvallsleden, Sweden

In the south of Sweden, connecting Halmstad to Karlshamn, runs the Banvallsleden trail. This route, composed of the disused narrow-gauge Bolmenbanan and Vislandabanan train lines, passes through 40 villages with disused train stations, many of which are still intact. As well as the stations, many of the old signals, platforms, and goods sheds survive, providing a unique glimpse into this now abandoned transport system of the region. The 155-mile route, mostly used by cyclists, passes through ancient regions containing much mythology; the picturesque Lake Ånsen is where Blända, the legendary leader of a 17^th century rebellion against the invading Danish army, is believed to have taken her people to wash away the blood of their enemies, giving the adjacent hill the title of Blodberget, ‘Blood Mountain’. Travellers on the route also have the opportunity to witness the natural beauty of the region, with chances to see wildlife including salmon, kingfishers, sea eagles, and moose.

Canfranc Station, Spain

As well as train lines, important stations also end up becoming abandoned and falling into disuse. The grand international railway station in Canfranc, a village in the Spanish Pyrenees, was opened in 1928 with the hope of serving as a principal hub for those travelling across the French-Spanish border. After a train derailment in 1970 that damaged an important bridge on the route, the station quickly declined and became derelict. For many decades, the once magnificent station sat unused, with the local government holding hope that one day the main station building could be repurposed into a hotel. The European Union granted funding for this in 2020, and the structure has now been transformed into Canfranc Estación, a luxury 5-star hotel with three restaurants (one of which has been awarded a Michelin star).

Alte Utting, Germany

But it’s not just rural train infrastructure that has been repurposed, with abandoned tracks in cities also being adapted to serve new purposes. One of Munich’s most beloved nightlife venues, Alte Utting, is located on top of an old railway bridge – inside a decommissioned passenger ship. The 144-ton boat, placed on top of a former railway bridge crossing a major inner-city road, has a different function on each deck: around the ship sit stalls serving local food, the engine room is used as a club, the helm has become a café, and the whole ship transforms into one of Munich’s famous Christmas markets in winter. Since its opening in 2018, Alte Utting has become a landmark for Munich, cherished by the people of the city and well-known by the rest of the world.

With many train lines being demolished or left to fall into ruin, these inventive initiatives to transform them into something useful are both practical and admirable. These are just a few out of hundreds of examples across the continent, where creative people have given new life to structures that may otherwise sit forever disused, and each one is a testament to the resourcefulness and imagination of their country.