The planned opening date for the underground railway station under the Stuttgart 21 project in December 2026 is once again uncertain. According to research by the SWR broadcasting organisation, the full start of operations is in question, with only a partial opening likely. The Stuttgart 21 task force, which consists of German state railway DB, the city and region of Stuttgart and the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, is currently discussing three scenarios. The first scenario envisages full start of operations but is considered unacceptable for passengers. The second, preferred scenario envisages a gradual start of operations, with high-speed trains (HST) initially running through the new underground station, while regional passenger rail transport continues to use the old terminus station. This scenario would cause less disruption to passengers, but for a longer period of time. The third scenario, a complete postponement of the opening, is not currently being seriously considered. The project partners, consisting of the federal government, the state of Baden-Württemberg, the city and region of Stuttgart and Stuttgart Airport, largely agree that a gradual start of operations is the best solution, but there are differences regarding the prioritisation of infrastructure.
