# Munich second S-Bahn main line construction

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/munich-second-s-bahn-main-line-construction
> Updated: 2026-09-25T12:37:39.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

The construction of Munich’s second S-Bahn main line has progressed from public demonstration to active drilling. In early September, Deutsche Bahn and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Tunnel Hauptbahnhof (ATH) held an open house at the construction site to showcase the ‘Donna Maria’ tunnel boring machine. The 178-meter-long, 700-ton machine was presented to the public to highlight the technical challenges of urban tunnel construction.

By mid-September, the ‘Donna Maria’ began drilling the first exploration and rescue tunnel for the project. This tunnel is intended to create a new route between Laim and Ostbahnhof to relieve the existing main line. The machine is expected to drill a three-kilometer route from the Donnersbergerbrücke area to Marienhof over approximately one year, operating at depths of up to 40 meters and excavating an estimated 150,000 tons of earth and rock.

As of late September, the ARGE Tunnel Hauptbahnhof—a consortium including Wayss & Freytag, Max Bögl, Züblin, and Bauer Spezialtiefbau—has successfully launched the mechanical excavation. The ‘Donna Maria’ is a Mixshield machine developed in collaboration with Herrenknecht, specifically designed for Munich’s geological conditions. During the drilling process, which averages a progress of eight meters per day, the excavated material will be distributed to twenty different landfills via truck and rail. The completed tunnel will serve as a vital rescue and exploration route between the two future S-Bahn traffic tunnels.

## Claims

- The tunnel boring machine 'Donna Maria' is starting work on the first exploration and rescue tunnel for Munich's second main line. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The 'Donna Maria' machine is 178 meters long and weighs 700 tons. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The drilling process is expected to take approximately one year, with an average progress of eight meters per day. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The project will generate approximately 150,000 tons of excavation material consisting of earth and rock. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The new tunnel route between Laim and Ostbahnhof aims to relieve the existing first main line. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Up to eight people will work directly on board the machine. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-25: Munich second trunk line begins mechanical tunnel excavation

The ARGE Tunnel Hauptbahnhof consortium has started mechanical excavation for Munich’s second trunk line using the ‘Donna Maria’ tunnel boring machine.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/munich-second-trunk-line-begins-mechanical-tunnel-excavation

### 2026-09-17: Munich begins drilling second S-Bahn main line rescue tunnel

The 178-meter-long tunnel boring machine 'Donna Maria' has started drilling an exploration and rescue tunnel in Munich to support the construction of the city's second S-Bahn main line.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/munich-begins-drilling-second-s-bahn-main-line-rescue-tunnel

### 2026-09-05: Deutsche Bahn opens Munich construction site to showcase massive tunnel boring machine

Deutsche Bahn is hosting an open house on September 12-13 in Munich, allowing the public to view the 178-meter-long tunnel boring machine ‘Donna Maria’ before it begins work on the second trunk line.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/deutsche-bahn-opens-munich-construction-site-to-showcase-massive-tunnel-boring-machine

---
Cite as: Munich second S-Bahn main line construction. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/munich-second-s-bahn-main-line-construction