Stuttgart 21, one of Germany’s most controversial rail projects, faces another major delay. The full commissioning of the new underground station and digital rail hub will not take place before the end of 2031, after more than 1,000 km of cables and piping were reportedly installed incorrectly, according to an SWR investigation.
The Stuttgart 21 project, considered one of the most ambitious railway infrastructure projects in Germany and Europe, is facing another major setback. According to the regional public broadcaster SWR, Deutsche Bahn incorrectly installed over 1,000 km of cables and piping in an attempt to meet the project’s previous deadlines.
Much of this infrastructure is now set to be replaced. The problems arose because the cabling work began before the final technical planning for the new digital signaling system was complete.
Full commissioning of the Stuttgart 21 rail hub is now estimated for the end of 2031. This date is five years later than the most recent target and 12 years past the original opening date.
Digitization Began Before Final Planning
Stuttgart 21 is intended to be Germany’s first fully digitized major rail system. The project calls for equipping routes and trains with the European Train Control System (ETCS), as well as control via digital signaling systems.
The original plan was for the hub to operate in an advanced digital configuration. According to the SWR investigation, however, Deutsche Bahn determined four years ago that freight trains without ETCS equipment would continue to run for years on the outer sections of the rail hub.
For this reason, conventional signals must also be maintained in these areas, alongside the new digital technology. This belated realization forced the railway company to install additional kilometers of cables and conduits, after a large portion of the work had already been completed according to the original plan, which relied exclusively on digitalization.
Other technical and construction issues
Cabling problems are not the only ones reported in the project. According to the same investigation, defects were identified in the emergency power supply and construction flaws on platforms and flooring.
These cumulative problems have made the previous goal of a partial opening in 2026 impossible.
A railway expert quoted by SWR described the state of the construction site in harsh terms, stating that it looks like a “shack.” He estimated that installing just the 450 new signals could cost approximately EUR 45 million.
Deutsche Bahn confirmed the need for dual-system equipment but did not comment on the exact additional costs.
Strong Reactions in Baden-Württemberg
The new delay has sparked strong reactions in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Cem Özdemir, a Green Party politician, described the project as on the verge of becoming “a national joke.”
He demanded that Deutsche Bahn provide “reliable figures” and clear answers regarding the timeline for individual phases and the completion of the entire project.
“It has to end at some point,” Özdemir said.
Other regional officials described the new delay as “unacceptable” and demanded complete transparency from Deutsche Bahn. The company has so far avoided detailed comments and indicated that it will provide explanations at a future press conference.
From EUR 4.5 billion to over EUR 11 billion
Stuttgart 21 was initially approved in 2001, with an opening planned for 2019 and an estimated budget of approximately EUR 4.5 billion. In the meantime, costs have exceeded EUR 11 billion, and repeated delays have turned the project into a symbol of the problems plaguing major German public works.
The project has also received European grants of at least EUR 726 million.
Stuttgart 21 is not just a transportation project. In 2001, the city of Stuttgart purchased most of the railway land that was to be freed up by moving the infrastructure underground—a total of 109 hectares—for nearly EUR 460 million.
The plan called for the development of new residential and urban neighborhoods, including the Rosenstein area. However, these real estate projects can only begin once the land is cleared, meaning that railway delays are also affecting the city’s urban development.
After missing the initial 2019 deadline, Deutsche Bahn has already been forced to pay the city EUR million in contractual penalty interest, a sum that continues to grow with each new delay.
Another Setback for Major German Projects
The latest crisis surrounding Stuttgart 21 comes amid a broader pattern of Germany’s struggles to manage major public projects, ranging from Berlin’s BER airport to repeatedly delayed and cost-overrun rail projects.
Critics argue that political pressure for rapid modernization, digitalization, and the green transition, combined with poor project management, continues to cause delays, additional costs, and results that are difficult to justify to taxpayers.
The German Taxpayers’ Association, Bund der Steuerzahler, has long criticized Stuttgart 21, describing the project as a “bottomless pit.” A representative of the organization warned that billions more from the federal budget and Deutsche Bahn are being funneled into what he called a “classic example of project management that has spiraled out of control.”
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