Stuttgart 21 Debate Heats Up: Transport Minister Criticizes Rail Project as a Misguided Choice
In the heart of Germany, the Stuttgart 21 (S21) project, billed as the most expensive, controversial, and longest-lasting project of the century, is causing a stir. Originally planned as a terminal station, the S21 project underwent a significant change to become a through station, aiming to modernise and expand capacity for growing traffic and improve connectivity in the larger Stuttgart-Ulm rail project.
The change from a terminal station to a through station was driven by the need for modernisation and capacity expansion. Stuttgart's existing main station, being a terminal station, limited capacity and efficiency. The S21 project aims to transform the station into an underground through station with new tunnels, allowing trains to run through the city rather than terminating there. This would facilitate smoother traffic flow on major routes, reduce travel times, and better integrate Stuttgart into the European rail network.
However, the project has not been without controversy. Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) has been vocal in his criticism, considering the S21 project a mistake. He has emphasised that there will continue to be significant restrictions for passengers, particularly in regional traffic.
The late S21 mediator Heiner Geißler proposed a combination station, where only long-distance trains run underground, which Hermann believes would have saved a lot of money. This proposal, unfortunately, was not implemented.
Berthold Huber, Bahn-Infrastructure Board Member, has rejected Hermann's criticism, stating that S21 is an investment in the future. Huber predicts a significantly higher frequency of trains will be possible due to S21, resulting in significantly shorter travel times for local and long-distance traffic in the future. He claims that S21 makes sense in every respect and contributes to the transport transition.
Huber has also stated that no railway company in the world would build such a terminal station today. This sentiment was echoed by Hermann, who stressed the importance of completing the S21 project as quickly as possible.
Not all voices are critical, though. Baden-Württemberg's Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) has sharply criticised German Railways in the past but believes that all his criticisms are coming true. Heiner Geißler's proposal for a combination station was one such criticism.
Huber has maintained that S21 will significantly improve infrastructure in Stuttgart and throughout the country. He claims that the project will contribute to the transport transition and make sense in every respect.
The S21 project, initially scheduled for completion by 2025, has faced delays, with parts of the project not operational until July 2027. This delay has further fuelled the controversy surrounding the project. As the deadline approaches, the future of the S21 project remains uncertain, with both supporters and critics voicing their opinions.
The S21 project, originally intended to modernize and expand the Stuttgart-Ulm rail project, faced controversy with the proposal for a combination station being rejected and the project's significant cost. The Finance industry and Politics have been influential, with debates over the project's necessity and potential cost savings. In response, supporters argue that the S21 project is an essential investment in the future of the country's transportation infrastructure, contributing significantly to the transport transition. Policy-and-Legislation and General-news outlets have covered the S21 project extensively, providing updates on the project's progress, criticism, and delays, with the issue remaining contentious as the completion deadline nears.
