The line from Casino to Bentley and Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek was formally closed on 23 September 2020 to facilitate the construction of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

[citation needed] As early as 1889, feasibility talks took place about extending the line north from Murwillumbah into Queensland, discussions that continue to the present day.

620/720 class railcars also worked this line (set 638/738, which was specially modified, and also hauled a small van).

The line to Condong Sugar Mill used to run over a section of the old Pacific Highway (now Tweed Valley Way) - when cane trains would unload, they blocked north and southbound traffic, disgruntling some impatient motorists.

The level crossing was removed following the closure of the old sugar mill and subsequently, the trains did not travel any further than Murwillumbah station from 1975 onwards.

In April 2004, the NSW Government closed the railway line after advising that it was unprofitable to continue providing services to Murwillumbah particularly due to lack of full fare patronage.

On 15 May 2004, the last XPT train left Murwillumbah station, putting an end to 110 years of rail transport in the region.

[16][17][18] The remains of this line are visible along the Booyong-Teven Road, including the piers from the bridge across North Creek Canal near Ballina.

It found the mooted connecting line between Robina in the Gold Coast and Murwillumbah would merely reinforce this existing poor targeting of the service and that "...the present population density in the area is too low to provide adequate benefit to cost ratios on investments in the line.

[4][5] The section of track to the north of the town centre has been fully restored by private investment at a cost of about $300,000 per kilometre.

[4] On Thursday 11 January 2018, Byron Bay Railroad Company announced they had taken over 10,000 passengers on the train, just 19 days after service began.

[10] A 2.6 km pilot Rail Trail section has begun from Murwillumbah railway station to the Tweed River Art Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre is supported by Tweed Shire Council due to its existing Public Transport Strategy.

[31] Stage one of the proposal is for a 24 kilometre 'Tweed Valley Rail Trail', stretching from Murwillumbah railway station to the Tweed Shire border at Crabbes Creek.

This was the third time the Rail Trail proposal had failed to attract funding at both State and Federal levels.

[38] The sections of railway line from Casino to Bentley and Crabbes Creek to Condong were formally closed by NSW Parliament in September 2020 to facilitate the first two stages of the Rail Trail project.

[2] On 1st March 2023, the 23.7 kilometer Tweed Shire section of The Northern Rivers Rail Trail was officially opened and has proved to be a highlight in the region with a diverse cross-section of the community from children to old age, in all weather conditions.

Those who support the proposal believe a safe rail trail running on the track formation where possible would increase eco tourism, provide significant safety and health benefits to cyclists and walkers all ages and preserve the historical significance of the railway corridor.