The new underground station is now scheduled to open in December 2031, according to Deutsche Bahn representatives who briefed the transport committee of the German Bundestag. The five-year delay follows a comprehensive review ordered by board member Evelyn Palla after the planned partial opening in late 2026 was canceled. At the time, digitization problems were cited as a reason.
Construction on Stuttgart 21 began in 2010. Originally slated for completion in 2019, the project’s latest target was December 2026. Costs have ballooned from an initial €4.5 billion to around €11.3 billion, and the new delay is expected to push them higher. Under a court ruling, Deutsche Bahn must cover any additional costs itself.
Stuttgart 21 involves not just the new underground through station but a complete reconfiguration of the Stuttgart rail node, including new stations, dozens of kilometers of track, and tunnels. The node is set to be the first in Germany to be fully digitized, with trains running solely on the ETCS signaling system and traditional light signals eliminated.
Source: www.sueddeutsche.de
