The northern portal of the Gotthard railway tunnel with the Roman numeral for the year 1882 of the inauguration ceremony. The right portal is the actual tunnel. The left tunnel was built around 1960. The tracks of the left portal ending after 195 m at a buffer stop. A switch joins after the portal the left track with the right track, and leads at 140 m across to the main tunnel where it connects at 215 m with the left track of the main tunnel. This extension of the station was needed for the switches up to the platform of the car shuttle trains. The military connections to the Gotthard tunnel are still secret, except the one in Airolo. However, they are no longer used. The engine drivers had always to be informed when military staff was in the tunnel. And that's no more happened since a long time. Just a little is revealed: There is a hidden &lt;a href="<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kecko/21035007460/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/kecko/21035007460/</a>"&gt;doorway&lt;/a&gt; in the tunnel on the right. Switzerland, Oct 16, 2013.
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