Visionaries

1960
A worker in the Federal Council

Heating engineer Willi Ritschard of the Social Democratic Party is a member of the federal government from 1977 to 1983, serving as head of the Transport and Finance Departments. (ca. 1981, Swiss Federal Archives)

If you were compiling a list of Federal Councillors behind the NRLA, would it include Willy Spühler (SP, 1960–1965), Rudolf Gnägi (BGB, 1966–1968), Roger Bonvin (CVP, 1968–1973) and Willi Ritschard (SP, 1974–1979)? It certainly should. As Ministers of Transport, Energy, Post and Rail they advanced the first plans for a base tunnel through the Gotthard. Leon Schlumpf (SVP, 1979–1987) pushes ahead with planning for the NRLA, but then puts it on hold to focus on Rail 2000.

« The SBB are giving me sleepless nights. »

Willi Ritschard, Letter to Werner Latscha, 31 January 1975
2920 kilometres of SBB rail track

at the start of 1978 according to Federal Councillor Willi Ritschard

813 SBB stations

in Switzerland at the start of 1978 according to Federal Councillor Willi Ritschard

602 post bus routes

at the start of 1978 according to Federal Councillor Willi Ritschard

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