Deutsche Bahn Confirms Stuttgart 21 Opening and Major Rail Upgrades

Deutsche Bahn confirmed that Stuttgart’s new underground station under the Stuttgart 21 project will open in December 2026, bringing faster journeys and improved regional connectivity for millions of passengers across southwestern Germany. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The station will initially serve all long-distance trains except those on the Gäubahn route and handle nearly half of regional services. DB will also open a new long-distance station at Stuttgart Airport and a train storage facility in Untertürkheim.

Deutsche Bahn and Stuttgart 21 Development Plans

According to DB’s infrastructure director Berthold Huber, Stuttgart 21 represents a major step toward the mobility transition in the southwest. He emphasized that this upgrade benefits passengers both in Baden-Württemberg and across Germany.

Don’t miss…Old York Rails & Vines Launches Unique Wine and Rail Adventure

To ensure smooth operations, Deutsche Bahn will keep the old terminus station active until mid-2027. The Gäubahn line will continue using the Panoramabahn until March 2027, while final works will finish in November 2027.

Deutsche Bahn Promises Faster Travel Times

Journey times will improve dramatically once the new station opens. For instance, ICE trains will cover Stuttgart to Ulm in just 28 minutes, compared to 43 today. Travelers heading to Stuttgart Airport will reach it in six minutes instead of 27.

Further improvements include extending the S-Bahn tunnel via Mittnachtstraße and introducing digital signaling to streamline traffic. Additional platform upgrades at Bad Cannstatt will integrate suburban and regional networks seamlessly.

To minimize disruption, DB will provide replacement transport in cooperation with SSB, while a joint taskforce prepares traffic and scheduling plans. Independent studies have confirmed the viability of these transitional measures.

Huber thanked passengers for their patience and stressed that Deutsche Bahn remains committed to reducing inconvenience during this significant rail transformation.

Source, photo: railwaypro.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: