Parliament backs the NRLA

3 October 1991
Rising to the transport policy challenge
Rising to the transport policy challenge

Some parliamentarians vote against the NRLA. As is customary at the time, they signal their objection by standing up. (1991, Keystone)

At the start of October 1991 the National Council swiftly follows the Council of States in voting 118 to 18 in favour of constructing the NRLA. Its arguments are based on regional and environmental concerns, and emphasise the European aspect of the project that feeds into the negotiations with the European Economic Community. It also wants to support goods transport and create a high-capacity passenger transport link. The federalist motivation of linking together eastern and western Switzerland ties the proposal closely to the Rail 2000 project. Three committees call for a referendum on the parliamentary decision, citing financial and environmental policy concerns.

« Switzerland's goal is for the EC to acknowledge rail transport, and in particular combined transport, as the only possible solution to the transit problem over the short, medium and long terms, having regard to our country's special topography and environmental policy. »

Council of States Control Committee report on international relations of the Federal Office of Transport, 31.08.1990

Schweiz aktuell: Schwerverkehr Standes-Initiative

1991, ©1970-2005 Swiss Radio and Television, licensed by Telepool PLC Zürich

Schweiz aktuell: Schwerverkehr Standes-Initiative

Schweiz aktuell: Cantonal initiative on heavy goods transport, 1991 (©1970-2005 Swiss Radio and Television, licensed by Telepool PLC Zürich)

Rendez-vous: Pro und Contra Neue Alpentransversale NEAT. Auszüge aus der Nationalratsdebatte

1991, Radio Broadcast: 1991 Swiss radio and television, with kind permission. First broadcast on 12. March 1991, «Rendez-Vous»

Rendez-vous: Pros and cons of the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) – excerpts from the National Council debate, 1991 (Radio Broadcast: 1991 Swiss radio and television, with kind permission. First broadcast on 12. March 1991, «Rendez-Vous»)

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