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Stuttgart Project 21 aims to revitalize major passenger terminal
This report presents a very optimistic, uncritical view. In fact, Stuttgart 21 is massively over budget, is badly behind schedule, and lead to the fall of the government of Baden-Wuerttemberg in 2011. The station and the surrounding construction area have been the scene of large, sometimes violent protests. The funding of the project is still a matter of controversy with the federal government (Bund) and the state (Land) refusing to contribute any more to it. Criticism of the leadership of the Deutsche Bahn’s management of the project in light of the recent increase of its estimated cost has been severe. In light of these considerations, the future of the project remains unclear.
By way of comparison, imagine having to channel all the NEC’s traffic at Philadelphia off the main line and into the old PRR Broad St. Station, or even into the present SEPTA (ex-PRR) Suburban Station in downtown, rather than using the through-track arrangement at 30th St. Station. That’s what Stuttgart’s main station is like. The cost and environmental concerns may be legitimate, but in the long run this project is necessary for this bustling region.
it takes real imagination to invest in these projects with poor return in investment but huge positive externalities. This is why europe has proper public transport and the US is choked with gas guzzling cars
There have been concerns raised also regarding the alterations proposed to an architecturally significant piece of railroad depot design, one that emerged virtually undamaged during WW2.
Having relatives in Stuttgarrt, I am familiar to the present terminal and (awkward) track layout. Yes, the project is controversial but it will be worth it. Waiting 20 years will only making such an endeavor exponentially mpore costly.