Stuttgart 21, one of Germany’s most controversial rail projects, is entering a new phase of crisis. Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced a revised plan to bring the project online between 2027 and 2033, after an internal audit uncovered serious deficiencies in planning, oversight, and risk management. The project’s estimated costs have risen to 14.5 billion EUR.
Deutsche Bahn officially presented the findings of an internal review commissioned by Evelyn Palla, chairwoman of the German railway group’s board of directors and CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG. The report highlights “serious deficiencies” in planning, coordination, and risk management for Stuttgart 21, the project to transform Stuttgart’s central station into an underground rail hub.
According to the company, the previous commissioning date, set for the end of 2026, was no longer realistic, given the assumptions used and the risks identified. DB is now announcing a phased schedule, with successive openings between December 2027 and December 2033.
“To put it plainly: I am shaken by the results of the internal review. The results have shaken not only me, but also the public—especially the people of Stuttgart and all the railway workers who give their best every day for our customers,” said Evelyn Palla.
Devastating Internal Audit for Stuttgart 21
DB’s internal report points to major problems in work processes and control mechanisms, poor coordination at critical interfaces, and shortcomings in proactive project management.
The company admits that previous process management was insufficient to safely manage a project of such complexity. DB announces “severe consequences,” both at the organizational level and regarding staff and project management.
The new management of DB Projekt Stuttgart-Ulm GmbH, the project company responsible for Stuttgart 21, has been working in recent months on a new commissioning schedule. This schedule also takes into account the complex interconnections between Stuttgart 21, the Digitaler Knoten Stuttgart project—the Stuttgart digital rail hub—the modernization of the Gäubahn, and the renovation of the historic Bonatzbau building.
Deutsche Bahn says that the project organization will be restructured and transformed into a commissioning-focused structure. Risk management will be overhauled, with clear escalation pathways and stricter controls.
Five-phase rollout through 2033
The new plan calls for the project to be commissioned in five major phases.
- In December 2027, passengers are expected to benefit from shorter pedestrian routes through the Bonatzbau building and across the roof of the future underground station. In 2028, the shops and service areas in the Bonatzbau are scheduled to open, and the area around the station will be gradually modernized.
- In December 2030, the airport rail station is scheduled to begin operations. Initially, it will be served by regional trains to and from Reutlingen, Tübingen, and Ulm. The connection to the main station will not be established until 2031, when the main station opens.
- In December 2031, Deutsche Bahn plans to open the new central station in Stuttgart. Long-distance trains and most regional service will stop at the new underground hub. Initially, trains to and from Bad Cannstatt will be an exception; they will not be able to enter the new station until 2032. Until mid-2032, the old terminus station will continue to be used for these trains.
- In July 2032, the digitized and expanded central section of the Stuttgart S-Bahn, including the Mittnachtstraße/Rosenstein station, is scheduled to go into operation. According to DB, this phase should increase the reliability of the commuter rail network.
- The final major phase is scheduled for December 2033, when the Pfaffensteig tunnel is expected to enter service. It will connect the Gäubahn via the airport to the Stuttgart 21 infrastructure and is expected to reduce the travel time between Stuttgart and Zurich by approximately 15 minutes.
Additional Costs of EUR 3 Billion
The new delay also has a major financial impact. Deutsche Bahn estimates additional costs of approximately 3 billion EUR, bringing the total projected cost of the project to 14.5 billion EUR.
The company says that most of the additional costs stem from the work still required to bring the system online.
Among the reasons for the new timeline are the greater-than-anticipated complexity of digitizing the rail hub, the insufficient maturity of the planning processes, the fact that a technical building designed in 2013 no longer meets current requirements, and the delayed response to a change in power supply regulations, which requires a complete redesign.
Deutsche Bahn Promises “Realism” After Years of Delays
Evelyn Palla said that the decision regarding the new timeline was “extremely difficult” for Deutsche Bahn. She admitted that the group had failed to meet expectations regarding previous deadlines.
“The new management at S21 has now drawn up a plan that abandons unrealistic assumptions. The risks have been comprehensively analyzed and reassessed. Honesty and realism have been incorporated into the project. Only in this way can we regain the trust we have lost,” said the head of Deutsche Bahn.
At the same time, DB maintains that the project’s objective remains unchanged: Stuttgart 21 is intended to make the Stuttgart rail hub more efficient, provide better connections for passengers, and strengthen rail transport in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Stuttgart 21, a symbol of Germany’s major projects that have spiraled out of control
Stuttgart 21 was approved in 2001, with an opening originally planned for 2019 and an estimated budget of approximately EUR 4.5 billion . Since then, costs have risen several times over, and the project has become one of the best-known examples of delays and cost overruns in a major public works project in Germany.
In addition to transforming Stuttgart’s central station into an underground transit hub, the project involves the digitization of the rail hub, the reorganization of regional traffic, and the freeing up of significant land for the city’s urban development.
With the new timeline, Deutsche Bahn is attempting to shift the project away from a history of unfulfilled promises toward a phased plan, but the additional costs and the fact that completion is now scheduled for 2033 confirm the scale of the crisis that Stuttgart 21 has reached.
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