The implementation of the massive German railway project Stuttgart 21 is again facing significant delays. According to media reports, full commissioning may not occur until 2030, with a partial opening of the new underground station possibly a year earlier. The project, whose original completion date was set for 2019, is grappling with prolonged testing, staffing shortages, and technical errors. German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) is not commenting on the speculation, only confirming work on a new schedule to be ready by mid-2026.
Full Delay Until 2030
According to unofficial information obtained by Südwestrundfunk, the full commissioning of the Stuttgart 21 project will occur no earlier than 2030. This represents an eleven-year delay relative to the original 2009 plans, which assumed completion of work in 2019.
Partial Opening in 2029
An earlier, partial opening of the new underground station in Stuttgart is possible if work proceeds smoothly. The newspaper „Stuttgarter Zeitung” points to 2029 as the potential launch date for the railway hub.
Official Silence from Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn refuses to comment on reports of new delays. A spokesperson only confirmed that the company has the task of developing a new commissioning concept, which it should present by mid-2026 at the latest.
Causes of Delays
Sources point to extended tests, shortages of personnel responsible for technical inspections, and defects and incorrectly installed technical systems. The halt in digital work (so-called Digit) is also cited as a significant delaying factor.
The reconstruction of Stuttgart's main railway hub, known as the Stuttgart 21 project, is once again facing multi-year delays. According to reports from German media, the full launch of the entire investment could drag on until 2030. This would represent an eleven-year delay compared to the deadline set in the 2009 financing agreement, which designated 2019 as the completion year. The „Stuttgarter Zeitung” reports that the partial handover of the underground station could take place in 2029. Deutsche Bahn, the railway operator responsible for the project, neither confirms nor denies the new dates. A company spokesperson told the DPA news agency: „We do not comment on the mentioned speculation”. He added that the company's obligation is to prepare a new concept for commissioning the facility by mid-2026. According to DPA information, discussions about the dates reported by the media are indeed taking place within project circles, but there is no official and final decision yet. The Stuttgart 21 project is one of the largest and most controversial infrastructure investments in post-war Germany. Its goal is to transform Stuttgart's terminal main station into an underground through station and build new railway lines. From the beginning, it has faced opposition due to enormous costs, far exceeding the original budget, and environmental impact, which has led to mass protests.The reasons for the latest schedule shift are complex. Sources cited by Südwestrundfunk point to significantly extended testing phases, an insufficient number of personnel authorized to conduct technical inspections, and faulty or incorrectly installed technical systems. A key factor cited as a brake on progress is also the halt in work on the digitalization of control systems (Digit). „Stuttgart 21 wird ̶̶2̶̶0̶̶1̶̶9̶̶ ̶̶2̶̶0̶̶2̶̶0̶̶ ̶̶2̶̶0̶̶2̶̶1̶̶ ̶̶2̶̶0̶̶2̶̶5̶̶ ̶̶2̶̶0̶̶2̶̶6 ̶̶2̶̶0̶̶2̶̶7 2030 fertig” (stern.de (artykuł 1)) — The visual striking out of earlier dates in the headline may suggest that each of these deadlines was officially announced and canceled. In reality, although the project has been repeatedly delayed, there is no confirmation that all these specific years (2020, 2021, 2025) were official commissioning dates. The last confirmed deadline was 2027.The last official deadline correction took place in November 2025, when the planned completion was postponed to 2027. The new reports, still unconfirmed by the project manager, thus indicate a further, multi-year delay. For the residents of Stuttgart and the region, further postponements are no longer a surprise, having become – as one portal put it – „routine”.