The third story, "The Gotthard Railway, " is the interior monologue of a Japanese travel writer on a scenic Swiss rail journey who develops an odd fascination for traversing the dark "belly" of the mountain.

CNN: VIEWS FROM THE FRINGE

With its elaborate system of narrow passes, viaducts and rock-hewn tunnels, the Swiss rail network has set the standard for more than a century, since its engineers first laid tracks up and down the steepest slopes and seemingly defied the impossible.

BBC: Swiss movement

But at least they accept, grudgingly, the merit of the Swiss road-rail alternative.

ECONOMIST: Switzerland

Ms Behrens also says the Avanti proposal would contradict an earlier referendum which made it part of the Swiss constitution to aim to transfer as much freight transport as possible to rail and not to disturb the Alpine landscape for transport.

BBC: St Gotthard tunnel fire

If you look specifically at Alpine transit, it is clear that the Swiss for example are putting in an enormous amount of money to improve the rail links.

BBC: Head to head: Alpine road protest