| Tickhole Tunnel | |
| Other Name: | Kotara (Tickhole) Railway Tunnel |
| Line: | Main Northern railway |
| Location: | Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates: | -32.944°N 151.6865°W |
| System: | NSW Trains |
| Owner: | RailCorp |
| Notrack: | 2 |
| El: | 1984 |
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 176adj=onNaNadj=on 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, 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]