The construction of controversial Stuttgart 21 railway project will cost more and take longer than previously assumed. The supervisory board of Deutsche Bahn has increased budget from 6.5 billion to 8.2 billion, as company reported. It contains a buffer of just under 500 million euros, which is to be used for "unforeseen events".

The railway also postponed opening date of underground transit station by four years to rear. Instead of year 2021, station is now open 2025.

The new line Wendlingen-Ulm, which is connected with Stuttgart 21, is also more expensive. The railway increased cost forecast to 3.7 billion from previous 3.26 billion euros. The completion shifts by one year to 2022.

The supervisory Board of railways shared that updated forecasts were based on an opinion of companies PwC and Emch Berger. The reason for new calculation is, among or things, higher prices, problems with ground and desire of Board of Management to hold financial buffers for possible furr risks. Despite all of this, it is more economical to continue building at Stuttgart 21 than to cancel project.

On Thursday, several media had reported on changes in cost and schedule. However, an official confirmation of reports was initially made.

It is unclear who should pay for this

The building owners plan to make Stuttgart Head station a transit station with platforms under surface. It has been built since 2010. In Stuttgart, tens of thousands of people were demonstrating against project in year and warned against unforeseeable cost explosions. It was built anyway, even because a year later a majority voted in favour of a nationwide referendum. Neverless, project remains controversial. Many opponents have now confirmed ir criticism.

Originally, station and its connecting lines should cost 4.5 billion euros. Similar to major projects in or cities such as Berlin airport BER or Hamburg Philharmonic Hall, costs of Stuttgart 21 have risen since construction began. Thus, railway expanded financial framework in year 2013 to 6.5 billion euros; In November last year, media reported a furr increase in costs – this time to 7.6 billion euros.

It is still unclear who should pay extra expenditure. About nine years ago, railway, Confederation, EU, state of Baden-Württemberg, city of Stuttgart and local airport had agreed to divide costs. But at that time y were still out of 4.5 billion euros. There has not yet been an agreement on who has come up with billions that have been added since n.

The Green MEP Matthias Gastel criticized that costs of Stuttgart 21 "are now advancing faster than construction". Finally, strict cost management is needed.

The railway expert of left-wing Bundestag group, Sabine Tiresome, called construction project "completely uneconomical". Supervisory boards, who simply continued project on this basis, would be in prison with one leg because y were obliged to avert economic damage from company. "The owner's covenant has to pull emergency brake."

Date Of Update: 27 January 2018, 12:03