Construction and implementation of the “Stuttgart 21” project, a major overhaul of Stuttgart’s railway infrastructure, is experiencing a partial delay. Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced on Friday that the existing central station will remain operational until mid-2027, a shift from the initially planned decommissioning in 2026.
The postponement stems from the initial commissioning concept for the Digital Node Stuttgart, which would have necessitated extensive and overlapping track closures in 2026. The revised approach is designed to significantly reduce disruptions for rail travelers.
The current central station will now remain in service until the extended S-Bahn (suburban railway) core line beyond the Mittnachtstraße station is inaugurated in summer 2027. The scenic Gäubahn route will continue to be directed to the central station via the Panoramabahn until March 2027. The anticipated integration of regional tracks from the new Neckar Bridge into the Westkopf (west head) of the Bad Cannstatt station, expected in November 2027, will see Stuttgart 21 largely operational, with the Gäubahn temporarily routed through the airport.
While the new Stuttgart main station and substantial portions of the new railway node are slated to commence operation with digital technology in December 2026, nearly all long-distance trains (excluding the Gäubahn) and approximately half of the regional services will utilize the new through station. Simultaneously, the airport long-distance station and the storage depot in Untertürkheim are scheduled to open. The connection of rail traffic between Tübingen/Reutlingen and the future Stuttgart railway node via the Great and Little Wendlinger curves will also be implemented.
“Stuttgart 21 represents a gain for numerous travelers in the region, Baden-Württemberg and beyond” stated Berthold Huber, Board Member for Infrastructure at Deutsche Bahn. “During this highly complex start-up phase, we must inevitably impose some inconveniences on our passengers. However, alongside our project partners, we have succeeded in minimizing these impacts as much as possible”.