is estimated to cost 1 billion Swiss francs. The resulting plan was presented in Spring 2019. A decision now needs to be made between fitting out the existing 14 km of unequipped tunnels and a full completion of the second tube, and is expected in 2023. The full option is naturally more expensive and takes two years longer, but it provides a much higher capacity and avoids an eight months full closure of the line. The second part of the Lötschberg axis is the Simplon Tunnel, completed in 1905 as a single-track base tunnel and augmented with a second bore in 1921. It connects Upper Valais to Northern Italy's Piedmont region. See also Rail transport in Switzerland History of rail transport in Switzerland High-speed rail in Switzerland References External links AlpTransit.ch AlpTransit Portal of the Swiss Federal Archives The New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) by the Federal Office of Transport FOT A construction project serving Europe – The opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2016 by Presence Switzerland, FDFA Alpine Initiative site with political background information International railway lines International tunnels Rail infrastructure in Switzerland Railway tunnels in Switzerland