Editing NRLA (section)

== Gotthard axis ==
[[File:Nordportal Gotthard-Basistunnel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Called "the project of the century", the [[Gotthard Base Tunnel]] is the first flat route through any major mountain range, from the northern plains (here in [[Erstfeld]]) to the southern plains. In the background here looms the majestic {{convert|3073|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} [[Bristen]] mountain.]]
The Gotthard axis consists of the [[Gotthard Base Tunnel]] (GBT), the partially operational [[Zimmerberg Base Tunnel]], the [[Ceneri Base Tunnel]] (CBT), and surface connections. It was built by AlpTransit Gotthard under contract from the [[Swiss Federal Council|Swiss Federal Government]]. The axis is the first flat trans-alpine rail link, with a maximum elevation of {{convert|550|m}} above sea level.

This enables a high-speed link through the Alps with a top speed of {{convert|250|km/h|abbr=on}}, reducing travel time between [[Zürich]] and [[Milan]] from previously four hours to currently three-and-a-half hours.<ref name=ATPOv/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/overview/results/?no_cache=1&tx_alptransit_list%5Bfilter%5D%5Btags%5D%5Btag%5D=20&tx_alptransit_list%5Bcontroller%5D=Event |title=Results for Gotthard |publisher=Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT |location=Berne, Switzerland |work=AlpTransit Portal |access-date=2017-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leica-geosystems.com/media/new/product_solution/rep_eng_gotthard_en.pdf |title=Gotthard Base Tunnel: Tunnel technology for the future |publisher=[[Leica Geosystems]] |location= Heerbrugg, Switzerland |access-date=2017-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Shafy, Samiha |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,454843,00.html |title=Elevator to the Underworld |newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=31 December 2006 |location=Hamburg, Germany |access-date=2017-07-01}}</ref>

The {{convert|57.1|km|adj=on}} Gotthard Base Tunnel is the [[List of longest tunnels|world's longest and deepest traffic tunnel]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geomatik.ch/fileadmin/redaktion/download/2010/Fach/FA_12_2010_1.pdf |title=Gotthard- und CeneriBasistunnel: die neue Gotthard-Bahn nimmt Gestalt an |publisher=Geomatik Schweiz |format=PDF |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205956/http://www.geomatik.ch/fileadmin/redaktion/download/2010/Fach/FA_12_2010_1.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=TA2>{{cite news |url=http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wissen/technik/wer-hat-die-groesste-roehre/story/14922381 |title=Wer hat die grösste Röhre? |trans-title=Who has the longest tube? |type=graphical animation |newspaper=[[Tages-Anzeiger]] |location=Zürich, Switzerland |date=14 April 2016 |language=German |access-date=11 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="BBC News 2016">{{cite web | title=Gotthard tunnel: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel opens in Switzerland | website=[[BBC News]] | date=1 June 2016 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36423250  | access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref> as was the original {{convert|15|km|adj=on}} Gotthard Tunnel at its completion in 1881. It consists of two parallel single-track tunnels, connected by 178 cross-connections. There are two emergency stations in each tunnel, each connected to the corresponding opposite-tunnel emergency station. These stations are equipped with water supplies to refill firefighter and rescue trains. One ([[Porta Alpina]]) was proposed as an 800m deep rail station, but that proposal was rejected on both economic and technical grounds. AlpTransit Gotthard handed the completed tunnel over to the Swiss government on 31 May 2016. It was formally opened in a ceremony the next day, during which the tunnel was conveyed to its operator: [[Swiss Federal Railways]] (SBB&nbsp;CFF&nbsp;FFS).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/overview/society/events/ereignis/high-profile-guests-at-the-opening-ceremony/true/?no_cache=1 |title=High-profile guests at the opening ceremony |date=1 June 2016 |publisher=Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT |location=Berne, Switzerland |work=AlpTransit Portal |access-date=2017-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Festival marks Gotthard Base Tunnel opening |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/festival-marks-gotthard-base-tunnel-opening.html |work=Railway Gazette |date=1 June 2016 |publisher=DVV Media UK Ltd |access-date=1 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601161711/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/festival-marks-gotthard-base-tunnel-opening.html |archive-date=1 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>