June 2021 - Construction underway; March 2021 - Construction started; November 2019 - Swiss Federal Council has approved CHF12.89bn (USD13bn) 2035 Rail Infrastructure plan, under which this project is being planned; August 2019 - Project has received the green light from the Federal Chambers of Switzerland in June 2019; Direct link includes plans to construct two tunnels Vue des Alpes (5.7 km) and under Chaumont Mountain (6.2 km) at Cernier; Project cost - EUR1.8bn