Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) - The project partners of "Stuttgart 21" have cleared the way for the construction of the Pfaffensteig tunnel for the Gäubahn. 270 million from the budget for the conversion of the railway junction and the construction of the new underground station are to flow into the construction of the new tube between Böblingen and the state airport, as State Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) announced on Monday in Stuttgart. The federal government guarantees the financing of the additional costs.
The eleven-kilometre-long tube, which will cost around one billion euros, is to lead the route underground under the Filder Mountains and end at the airport in the planned long-distance train station. From there, travelers should one day continue to the new Stuttgart underground station "Stuttgart 21". Previously, trains from Horb were supposed to go to the airport via the S-Bahn tracks. The Gäubahn is the train connection between Stuttgart and Zurich.
According to Deutsche Bahn, a continuous connection to the state capital will no longer be possible for around two years from mid-2025 during the construction of the tunnel. Instead, travelers in the Stuttgart district of Vaihingen should change to the S-Bahn towards the main station - which means significantly longer travel times.
