Šaursliežu dzelzceļš starp Valku un Api tika atklāts 1900. gadā.
Pēc Igaunijas un Latvijas republiku dibināšanas 1918. gadā un Valkas un Valgas sadalīšanas starp divām valstīm, paralēli jau esošajam dzelzceļam, tika izbūvēts jauns atzars no Valgas uz Api Igaunijas teritorijā. Abas līnijas satiekas netālu no Koikulas, kas atrodas aptuveni 13km no Valgas. Dzelzceļš darbojās līdz 1970.gadam.
Šodien kādreizējais dzelzceļa maršruts, kas ved cauri gleznainiem laukiem un mazām pilsētām Deinvidigaunijā un Ziemeļvidzemē, ir pārveidots par pārgājienu un velo maršrutu.
Galvenokārt maršrutā ir zemes un meža ceļi. No Valkas līdz Žuldiņām un no Koikulas līdz Harglai, kur kādreizējo dzelzceļa maršrutu vairs nav iespējams izmantot, maršruts ved pa koplietošanas ceļiem.
Maršruts dabā ir marķēts, kā arī ir iespējams iepazīties ar vēstures materiāliem.
PDF brošūra ar karti.
Apraksts projekta mājaslapā
Description in English
The general aim of the Green Railway project is to create a new non-motorized tourism route for both locals and visitors, using old narrow-gauge railway causeways in South-Estonia and North-Latvia.
The narrow-gauge railway between Valka and Ape was opened in 1900.
After the birth of Republic of Estonia and Republic of Latvia in 1918 and splitting Valga and Valka between the countries the first kilometres of the railway that is mostly on the territory of Estonia was located in Latvia. In a few years a parallel railway exiting Valga towards Ape was constructed on the territory of Estonia, because Estonians did not want to pay Latvian for the use of the railway. The two railways meet near Koikküla, ca 13 km from Valga.
The last trains rode between Valga and Ape in 1970. Today most of the old railway causeways that pass picturesque landscapes and forests of southern Estonia and northern Latvia are turned into trails for walking and cycling.
The trails run mostly on gravel and surface roads. From Valka to Žuldini and from Koikküla to Hargla the trail is on bigger roads, as the old railway has become mostly impassable in these sections. The trails are signposted and there are a lot of historic photos and newspaper articles by the trail.
NB! The signing and road works on Valga - Kaagjärve - Koikküla section will take place in summer 2019.
