Ontario cities transforming abandoned railway corridor into recreational trail

A long-abandoned railway corridor that once carried trains through parts of Peel Region is getting a new lease on life as a 51-kilometre recreational trail connecting multiple Ontario communities.

The former Orangeville-Brampton Railway corridor, which was decommissioned in late 2022, is being transformed into a multi-use trail stretching through Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, and Orangeville as part of a multi-year regional project.

In 2022, the four regions jointly acquired the former corridor with plans to convert it into a public trail network.

In Brampton alone, the future trail will stretch more than 14 kilometres along the former rail corridor, which the city purchased for $24.25 million.

City officials say the project is designed to create more connected and sustainable public spaces while encouraging walking and biking, a welcome change for what is currently an abandoned railway track.

Photo via City of Brampton.

Since multiple municipalities have joined forces on the project, coordination between all regions will be key to ensuring its successful completion. The City of Brampton is currently in Phase 1 of the project, focusing on "visioning" and public outreach.

Caledon is expected to play a major role in the transformation, with the town overseeing roughly 36 kilometres of the corridor within its boundaries, the largest portion among the municipalities involved in the project.  

Caledon officials say the project is intended to connect communities across the town and neighbouring municipalities while supporting key pillars of the community, including tourism, economic development, and outdoor recreation.

The trail could eventually continue north beyond Orangeville toward Owen Sound, creating a larger regional recreation corridor, officials add.

The town is currently in Phase 2 of the project, which includes preliminary design work, public consultation, and environmental and safety studies.

Photo via City of Mississauga.

Mississauga is also moving ahead with its portion of the conversion project, where a shorter 1.15-kilometre section will run from Atwood Lane to the Brampton border across the Credit River. Construction on that section is expected to begin in the fall of 2026, with the trail planned to open in summer 2027.

Photo via City of Mississauga.

Once complete, the revitalized route is expected to connect with other trail systems across the region, including parts of the broader Credit Valley Trail network.