Parnell Tunnel

Parnell Tunnel
tunnel portals
The southern portals of the newer double-track tunnel, and of the closed older single-track tunnel in 2023
Overview
LineNewmarket Line
LocationParnell, Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates36°51′43″S 174°46′53″E / 36.862°S 174.7815°E / -36.862; 174.7815
Statusin use
Operation
Work begun1864 (original tunnel)
1914 (second tunnel)
OpenedFebruary 1873 (original tunnel)
1915 (second tunnel)
Closedafter 1930 (original tunnel)
Technical
Length344.5 m (1,130 ft)
No. of tracks2
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Parnell Tunnel is a railway tunnel under Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. It is 344.5 metres (1,130 ft) long,[1] and is on the Newmarket Line.

The tunnel allows the Western and Southern lines coming from Newmarket Train Station to Waitematā railway station to pass under the Parnell Ridge before dropping to harbour level.

There are two Parnell Tunnels, an older now unused single-track tunnel and a newer double-track tunnel which superseded it. The older tunnel was closed off and has not been in use for most of the last century.

The older tunnel, originally intended in part to provide a connection to Drury for the New Zealand Wars, has been lauded as having enabled the first public railway line in Auckland, and opening the city up to the wider New Zealand.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference FEAT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference GREATEST was invoked but never defined (see the help page).