German Minister Slams Railway Company Over Stuttgart 21 Failures, Project Delayed by Years

Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Nicole Razavi has reacted with dismay and sharp criticism to the latest setbacks plaguing the Stuttgart 21 rail project. She described the errors made by the German railway company, Deutsche Bahn, as beyond her worst nightmares, citing issues like incorrectly laid cables and a naive approach to standards and norms.

“

I could not have imagined in my darkest dreams what mistakes the Bahn has made in its implementation.

Razavi, who recently took office, admitted she anticipated potential delays or adjustments for Stuttgart 21. However, she never imagined such fundamental implementation failures would occur. "How can something like this happen in Germany?" she questioned, emphasizing the project's impact on the reputation of a key industrial location.

“

That, for example, cables are laid incorrectly or one deals naively with higher norms and standards – nobody could have imagined that.

The minister confirmed her continued support for the project but vowed to oversee it with heightened scrutiny. She expects Deutsche Bahn to complete Stuttgart 21 "fully and swiftly." Razavi placed the blame for the current, minimum five-year delay squarely on the railway company, calling it a "real failure" that echoes the problems faced by the BER airport.

“

It is about the honor of an industrial location.

Recent reports indicate that the underground station is now slated to open in late 2031, a date repeatedly postponed. Deutsche Bahn anticipates additional costs of around 3 billion euros, bringing the total project expenditure to approximately 14.5 billion euros. This latest delay and cost overrun highlight significant management and execution challenges within the Bahn.

“

The reason for the new, at least five-year delay lies with the Bahn itself. That is real failure – it's not just me saying that, the Bahn itself says that.