Disused railway lines in northern Latvia and southern Estonia will be joined, connecting a huge network of rail trails for hikers and cyclists within two years.

The Green Railroads project, worth above €1m and co-funded by the EU, spans 25 municipalities and organizations in Latvia and Estonia.

It aims to connect a network of 750 km worth of trails for walking and cycling, consisting mostly of disused railway lines converted into multi-use paths.

Preliminary works have already been started at Limbaži, where a 7 km trail now runs over part of the former railway along with part of the Niedrāji-Pilka narrow-gauge railway. A further 11 km of rail trails will be set up in Limbaži within the project, said Ilze Millere, a representative of the local municipal tourism center.

The green railways are at a distance from auto roads. They offer safety, fresh air, and the chance to see birds and animals. There are lakes on the way, and other things that we usually pass by in everday life, said Kati-Katri Koppel, a representative of the Viljandi municipality.