Tickhole Tunnel
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| Tickhole Tunnel | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Tickhole Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
| Other name | Kotara (Tickhole) Railway Tunnel |
| Line | Main Northern railway |
| Location | Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°56′38″S 151°41′11″E / 32.9440°S 151.6865°E |
| System | NSW Trains |
| Crosses |
|
| Start | Kotara |
| End | Cardiff |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 15 August 1887 |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Technical | |
| Length |
|
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrified | 1984 |
New South Wales Heritage Database (Local Government Register) | |
| Official name | Kotara (Tickhole) Railway Tunnel |
| Designated | 28 May 2009 |
| Reference no. | s.170 |
The Tickhole Tunnel, also called the Kotara (Tickhole) Railway Tunnel, is a heritage-listed double track railway tunnel that carries the Main Northern railway line beneath the Newcastle Inner City Bypass (A37) and is a diversion over the Tickhole Creek. The tunnel is located between Cardiff and Kotara stations in the City of Newcastle local government area of New South Wales, Australia.[1][2]
The original 161-metre (176 yd) tunnel opened on 15 August 1887. It initially only had one track, but provision was made for the line to be duplicated which duly occurred in 1891.[3][4][5][6] As part of the electrification of the line, in 1983 tenders were called for a second tunnel, of 205 metres (673 ft), completed in 1984.[7] This second tunnel is used by southbound services, while the original tunnel once again became single track for northbound services.[1][2]
