Stuttgart 21 railway project delayed to 2031

The Stuttgart 21 rail hub, originally slated for completion between 2019 and 2025, is now expected to open at the end of 2031. The shift follows a comprehensive project review that revealed problems with the digital rail node (DKS), planning oversight, technical building issues and tightened safety requirements. Costs have risen from the €4.5 billion ceiling set in 2009 to around €11.3 billion, with the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn ordered by a court to bear the overruns.

Partial improvements are planned: some sections may be usable by the end of 2027 with further openings in 2028, and airport connectivity is targeted for 2030. Baden‑Württemberg Minister‑President Cem Özdemir warned that the project is becoming “a laughingstock” and demanded that the railway provide “reliable numbers” and a clear timetable, saying, “I don’t want us to get new figures every year.” Deutsche Bahn will brief the public after the steering‑committee meeting on 26 June.

The delay underscores challenges in digitising the nation’s first fully digital rail hub and raises concerns about the financial and operational impact on the region’s transport network.