Overview
- After a crisis meeting in Stuttgart, CEO Evelyn Palla said Deutsche Bahn will present a revised commissioning concept by mid-2026.
- Palla declined to set a date and called a start before the end of 2027 hard to imagine, stressing that rushed announcements will be avoided.
- The December 2026 partial opening was scrapped in November due to problems with the rail node’s digitalization and with station works.
- Regional partners, including Baden-Württemberg’s premier and the transport minister, demanded a transparent, realistic roadmap for entering service.
- Project costs have risen to more than €11 billion from an original €2.5 billion estimate, with reports citing shortages of assessors and safety staff as additional hurdles.