Stuttgart 21 railway hub delayed to 2031 after 1,000 km of cables misinstalled

Germany’s Stuttgart 21 railway project has hit a new setback. Deutsche Bahn installed more than 1,000 km of cables and pipework incorrectly because work began before the final technical plans for the digital signalling system were ready. The faulty sections will have to be removed and rebuilt, pushing the full opening of the underground station and digital rail node to the end of 2031, five years later than the latest target and 12 years after the original 2019 deadline.

The cost estimate has risen from an initial €4.5 billion to over €11 billion, with additional penalties paid to the city for missed deadlines. The project, intended to be Germany’s first fully digital rail centre using the European Train Control System (ETCS), now faces criticism from regional politicians who call it a "national joke" and demand clearer timelines and accountability.