Overview

• On August 1 the Baden-Württemberg Administrative Court in Mannheim rejected Deutsche Bahn’s request to appeal a May 2024 Stuttgart court ruling, making its obligation to cover cost overruns final.
• A 2009 financing agreement caps project partner contributions at €4.5 billion, leaving at least €6.5 billion in extra expenses for Deutsche Bahn.
• The company now projects total Stuttgart 21 costs at around €11 billion plus a €500 million risk buffer, further straining its finances.
• Despite the added burden, Deutsche Bahn says the ruling will have no direct impact on current ticket prices and plans a partial opening of the new underground station in December 2026.
• Having exhausted administrative remedies, Deutsche Bahn may turn to the Federal Constitutional Court to pursue further legal recourse.