Stuttgart–Ulm project consists of the construction of a rapid line between Wendlingen and Ulm, located in Baden-Württemberg, in the south of Germany and represents a transport development plan which includes the construction of the connection and the extension and modernisation of stations, but also the complete restructuring of Stuttgart urban hub. The project is considered one of the biggest railway projects in Baden-Württemberg Land.
The project will change regional transport services because the continuation of the railways that cut through the city, instead of ending in the city areas, is a beneficial change for this type of services. Thus, due to Stuttgart hub, regional trains will be capable to complete their journeys without being necessary to reverse direction to the city’s central station. Currently, the city’s central station is a point from where trains arrive and from where they depart, but if Stuttgart is not their destination, passengers must change trains. Known as Stuttgart 21, this is the station that will be rebuilt to become a transfer station, where trains arrive and from where they leave to other destinations, contrasting the present situation: trains arrive and stop. Thus, regional services will no longer end in the city, but they will also have links to other regions. Apart from the existing S-Bahn network, Stuttgart region will also have a regional railway system providing connections to other cities and a high integration level.
Over eight million people living in the region will benefit from a 30% increase of services thanks to the new project in Stuttgart. The services will be much more efficient, faster and, most of all, seamless, since there will be direct connections between the main cities of the region. According to the announcements made at the end of 2017, the project could register a EUR 1.1 billion increase of costs, to a total EUR 7.6 billion and reaching EUR 8 billion if unexpected costs were added. Construction works began in 2010 and their finalisation was delayed with commissioning estimated for 2024, the initial deadline of 2021 being admitted as “unrealistic”. The project includes two large sections – Stuttgart 21, which involves the reshaping of the rail hub and the construction of a high-speed rail connection from Wendlingen to Ulm. The project also includes the construction of three new stations in Stuttgart (Mittnachtstraße SBahn, central station and Messe/Airport station) and of a railway ring mostly built in the underground. The complexity of the project consists of the relocation of the central station in the underground. The existing central station will be redesigned and rotated at 90 degrees and converted into a “through station” hub, a process which is necessary to provide high-speed services and improved connections to S-Bahn and Stadtbahn urban transport services. With the reconstruction of Stuttgart station, trains will no longer block each other and will no longer lose time waiting to enter or exit the station. The eight lines will be able to handle more trains than the current 16 lines. Stuttgart rail node consists of the construction of 57 km of railways, of which 33 km in 16 tunnels, 18 bridges and three stations. Operation is expected starting with December 2025. The reconstruction of the station will also include a direct link to Mannheim – Stuttgart high-speed railway, through Filder Tunnel, providing a further connection to the airport through the new Messe/Airport station. The station will be built in Filder region and will serve long-distance, regional, S-Bahn and light rail services (the lines will be extended), transforming the region from a suburban area into a central area. The station is another transport hub.
Main sections
Wendlingen – Ulm project has eight sections. 75% of the 47 km of tunnels are completed. Part of works were completed in 2007 in anticipation of what is currently under construction. Thus, Neu-Ulm 21 represented a small version of the project for Stuttgart and consisting of moving lines into the underground, the modernisation of existing sections and their preparation for connection through the new project. The Danube bridge in Ulm consisted of the construction of a 4-line bridge. The section that includes Ulm Station and the adjacent areas include the construction of a railway of just 1.2 km and the radical reconstruction of the station, representing the final phase of the new Wendlingen-Ulm railway. Alb descent, Alb crossing and Alb ascent create three important sections of the project. The 6.5-km long Alb Descent creates the link between Alb and Ulm Main Station crossing. Built on surface, the section will divert from the alignment of motorway 8 and will draw a straight line for Ulm Station before entering the 5.9-km long Albabstieg Tunnel which closes this section. Alb crossing is the longest section of Wendlingen-Ulm railway which will cross Widderstall to Dornstadt on 21 km railway.
This section has four tunnels. Construction works were launched in 2012 and are due in 2022. Alb ascent is a 15-km long section which crosses the hills in the region. The 8.8-km long Boßler Tunnel is located at the highest altitude and tunnelling works were completed on schedule (last June). Alb Foothills is 5-km long and marks the beginning of the ascension of the railway to Swabian Alb hills. The railway starts in Weilheim an der Teck (in Esslingen) to Aichelberg and ends at the western entrance of Boßler Tunnel. Alb Foothills/ Stuttgart rail node is the 9km section which provides a direct connection to the railway network built as part of Stuttgart 21. The first section of the new Wendlingen-Ulm railway starts at the 136m bridge over Neckar, in Wendlingen. This year, two contracts were awarded under Wendlingen – Ulm new line. Rhomberg Bahntechnik GmbH and Swietelsky Baugesellschaft were awarded a EUR 250 million contract for the construction of Wendlingen – Ulm line. The contract envisages the construction of 118 km slab tracks, 16 switches as well as the construction of 50-Hz low voltage systems, telecommunications and traction power supply. Within the first lot, construction works are included in the Albvorland, from Wendlingen to the Alb ascent between Weilheim and Hohenstadt, and in the second lot, the Alb plateau from Widderstall to the Alb descent to Ulm link will be realised. Starting February, the project entered design phase and construction works will be launched in 2019. In May, Deutsche Bahn awarded Vinci Construction Terrassement a EUR 55 million for the construction of the railway link between Stuttgart Airport and the city of Wendlingen. Works include 5.4 km of earthworks and drainage, 7.5 km of siding and 8,500 square metres of noise barriers. The section will take 24 months to build.
High-speed connection
The project includes the connection to Wendlingen and Ulm, by accessing high-speed services. A 5-km long underground ring will be built from east to west to connect Stuttgart Main Station, Bad Cannstatt station to new stations in Untertürkheim. The ring will have 8 lines allowing trains to use the central station in Stuttgart, and from there to continue their journey to other destinations with no turn. The project consists of the construction of the 59.6-km long Wendlingen – Ulm high-speed railway (where trains will reach speeds of 250 km/h) of which 30.4 km or approx. 75% will be built in the underground with 5 tunnels, 17 railway passages and 20 road bridges. The railway will be built from Wendlingen to Ulm, following the direction of motorway 8. Commissioning is expected in 2022. The reconstruction of Ulm station will add to the construction of the railway and to the reconstruction of Stuttgart node. Apart from regional links, Stuttgart 21 will also enable high-speed transport connections in Europe. With the construction of Stuttgart-Ulm high-speed line, Baden- Württemberg land will gain access to the European highspeed network. The railway will be part of the “Main Line for Europe” initiative which connects cities and regions with a total population of 34,000 residents from five countries. The initiative is supported by alliances of cities (Stuttgart, Ulm and Karlsruhe included), regions and the industry and trade chambers of France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary). Actually, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart and Ulm are located halfway the 1,500 km railway which connects European cities such as Paris, Strasbourg, Munich and Vienna with Bratislava and Budapest.
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