Another feeder is the Luino link along Lake Maggiore which is about to be upgraded by Italy in prospect of the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

It allows traffic to bypass the conventional high-level railway running through the historic Monte Ceneri Tunnel.

[7] It forms only one element of a wider effort, commonly referred to as the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) programme, which is being developed by AlpTransit Gotthard AG (ATG), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).

When it became operational in December 2020, the Ceneri Base Tunnel began working together with the longer Gotthard Base Tunnel to significantly shorten the journey times between the Northern Swiss city of Zürich and the Northern Italian city of Milan by providing a flatter route for freight and passenger trains than previous conventional lines.

[7] Operationally, the Ceneri Base Tunnel is anticipated to be used by in excess of 300 trains each day travelling in both directions.

It shall be furnished with ETCS Level 2 signalling,[needs update] allowing for trains to traverse it at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph).

[10] The Ceneri Base Tunnel was approved in July 2001 by the Swiss Federal Council, clearing the way for detailing planning activity to proceed.

[11] During April 2007, AlpTransit Gotthard AG awarded a Sfr85m ($91.52m) contract for the construction of the first underground element of the tunnel to Consorzio Monte Ceneri (CMC) JV, a consortium of CSC, Lugano, Frutiger, Thun, Rothpletz, Lienhard & Cie, and Aarau.

[7] During June 2009, the Board of Directors of AlpTransit Gotthard AG announced that it had awarded the principal contract for the tunnel's construction to the Consorzio Condotte Cossi consortium.

[7] That same day, it was announced that the excavation process had been completed, and the installation of railway infrastructure was the next major stage of the work.

At one point, it looked as if the completion of the Ceneri Base Tunnel may be delayed as a consequence of legal disputes.

[21] On 30 May 2018, the final railroad tie was laid, meaning that trains can now travel the entire length of the tunnel.