The Federal Ministry of Transport does not anticipate the recent ruling by the Baden-Württemberg Administrative Court concerning the Stuttgart 21 rail project will have a direct impact on the federal government. A spokesperson confirmed this in Berlin on Wednesday, responding to inquiries from the dts news agency.
The ministry’s position stems from the fact that the federal government is not a project participant. Consequently, existing financial commitments are capped under contractual agreements. These limits include €497 million from the Performance and Financing Agreement and an additional €169 million from the Federal Railway Financing Act (GVFG). “This provides a contractual ceiling; no further financial obligations will arise for the federal government” the spokesperson stated.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the court’s decision regarding responsibility for the project’s substantial cost overruns has already been factored into the company’s medium-term financial planning. The railway company asserts that this incorporation mitigates any potential delays, assuring a smooth progression of the Stuttgart 21 project and avoiding disruptions to other major infrastructure undertakings.