Ri-REVERSE: modular cycle paths on disused railways for reversible

Ri-REVERSE: modular cycle paths on disused railways

The Ri-REVERSE project aims to temporarily repurpose inactive railway lines as low-impact cycle paths through a modular superstructure laid on existing track beds, avoiding permanent alterations to the infrastructure.

• Partners: concept by artist Nino Ventura, developed with the DIATI, DAD and DISEG departments of the Politecnico di Torino and in collaboration with company Idea Plast.
• Circular materials: deck and guardrails in recycled plastic; rolling surface and curbs in rubber recycled from end-of-life tyres, supported by Ecopneus.
• Reversibility: the modular solution can be quickly removed to restore railway use and to relocate components.
• Scale: estimates identify about 2,000 km of potentially reclaimable disused lines in Italy, roughly 100 km in Piedmont.
• Funding: supported by Regione Piemonte under the SWIch 2023 call, with involvement of FIAB.
• Status: a full-scale demonstrator has been built in the Mirafiori area of the Politecnico di Torino and a joint patent application has been filed.

Significance: the solution seeks to preserve land, reduce landfill waste and limit raw material consumption while promoting soft mobility and local cycle tourism.