Short answer: the Stuttgart 21 underground through-station (Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof tief) opens to the public on Sunday 6 December 2026, turning Stuttgart from a terminus into a through-station served by Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB and SBB. From that day, long-distance trains enter and exit through the new platforms, the old Bonatz-Bau terminus is disconnected from the rail network, and journey times to Munich, Zurich and Vienna drop significantly.
When Deutsche Bahn confirmed in late 2025 that the new Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof would open exactly a year later, it ended more than fifteen years of delays over what is, by budget, Europe's largest rail infrastructure project. Trains that have ended their journey in Stuttgart for the last 110 years will instead pass through the city in a tunnel under the old Schlossgarten park. For travellers, the practical consequence is straightforward: faster journeys to Munich, Zurich and Vienna, new direct routes, and a much more useful hub for the European rail network.
What Stuttgart 21 actually is
Stuttgart 21 is the umbrella name for a package of works that, taken together, replace Stuttgart's existing terminus with an underground through-station, build roughly 60 km of new tracks and connect them to the existing Wendlingen–Ulm high-speed line. The main components are the new Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof tief (four platforms, eight tracks, about 11 metres below the old concourse), the Filder Tunnel to Stuttgart Flughafen Bahnhof, the Stuttgart–Wendlingen high-speed line and the Gäubahn corridor towards Singen and Zurich. From a passenger perspective, the relevant change is the very concrete one: trains will stop at a new underground station instead of at the old terminus.
What changes on 6 December 2026
From 6 December 2026, the Fahrplanwechsel (winter timetable change), the underground station enters service and the existing Bonatz-Bau terminus — in use since 1916 — is disconnected from the rail network. Long-distance services (ICE, IC, TGV) and a large part of regional traffic move down to the new platforms from day one.
Key changes for travellers:
- Through-services instead of terminus: ICE trains between Stuttgart and Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt, and Stuttgart and Hamburg/Berlin no longer have to reverse in the station. Journey times on those corridors drop by roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
- New direct routes: services that previously required a change in Stuttgart — for example Hamburg–Stuttgart–Zurich — start running as direct trains through the new underground station.
- Bonatz-Bau out of the rail network: the historic building is kept for hotel, retail and cultural use, but trains no longer stop there. The upper-level S-Bahn stays open and runs as before.
- Stuttgart Airport long-distance stop: the new Stuttgart Flughafen Bahnhof underground station, reached through the Filder Tunnel, opens at the same time and becomes the city's main long-distance interchange with the airport.
Timetable and journey times from December 2026
The detailed winter 2026 timetable is published by DB in mid-October 2026, but the headline services are already known:
- Stuttgart–Munich ICE: target around 2 hours 15 minutes end to end, down from about 2h 30 today, with up to 30 daily ICE services once the timetable stabilises in 2027.
- Stuttgart–Frankfurt ICE: roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, with trains continuing to Hamburg and Berlin.
- Stuttgart–Zurich: the direct IC/ICE via the Gäubahn runs in about 3 hours 10 minutes once the new timetable is fully operational.
- Stuttgart–Vienna: a direct Nightjet sleeper already runs via Stuttgart; with Stuttgart 21 it joins the through-station and gains a slightly faster morning arrival in Vienna.
The Stuttgart–Ulm section has been running since December 2022, so the high-speed gain between Stuttgart and Munich is finally usable end to end, with the bottleneck at the Stuttgart end removed.
Tickets, pass validity and the Deutschlandticket
Tickets for the new services work exactly as on the rest of the German network: Sparpreis and Flexpreis DB fares are valid on the new underground station and on the airport station, with no surcharge; Interrail / Eurail passes are accepted on all ICE, IC and regional services through Stuttgart, including the airport. The Deutschlandticket (€58/month in 2026) covers S-Bahn, RE and RB trains at and around the new station, but not long-distance ICE/IC. Through-tickets under the EU's Multimodal Booking Regulation (in force since 1 May 2026) connect the new underground station with the S-Bahn and the airport on a single contract.
How to reach the new underground station
The new Hauptbahnhof tief sits directly under the old station, so most of the wayfinding is the same. From the Schlossplatz and Königstraße, allow 5 to 10 minutes on foot through the main concourse and new escalators. The S-Bahn lines S2 and S3 call at the new Stuttgart Flughafen Bahnhof, with a direct lift transfer to long- distance ICE/IC services. During the first weeks of operation, the new signage will be unfamiliar to many regular travellers, so allow a little extra time for the first trip.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Stuttgart 21 underground station open?
The new Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof tief enters public service on Sunday 6 December 2026, at the start of the winter timetable (Fahrplanwechsel). A test operation with empty and later loaded trains is scheduled for September 2026, ahead of the full opening.
How much faster is Stuttgart–Munich after Stuttgart 21?
DB and the project company DB InfraGO are targeting roughly 2 hours 15 minutes end to end for ICE services, down from around 2h 30 today, with up to 30 daily ICE trains in each direction once the timetable stabilises in 2027.
Does the old Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof still exist?
The historic Bonatz-Bau (1916) building is preserved and will be reused for hotel, retail and cultural purposes, but it is disconnected from the rail network on 6 December 2026. The S-Bahn (suburban) platforms on the upper level continue to run as before.
Can I take the ICE to Stuttgart Airport from December 2026?
Yes. The new Stuttgart Flughafen Bahnhof, reached through the Filder Tunnel, opens on the same day. It is the first time a long-distance ICE stop has been available at Stuttgart Airport, and the S-Bahn lines S2 and S3 connect it directly to the new underground station.
Does the Deutschlandticket cover trains at the new station?
The Deutschlandticket (€58/month in 2026) covers S-Bahn, RE and RB regional services at and around the new underground station, but not long-distance ICE or IC trains. For ICE, a separate DB ticket or an Interrail / Eurail pass is required.
Where can I compare the new Stuttgart services with other modes?
You can compare ICE, TGV, regional trains, FlixBus and flights between Stuttgart and Munich, Frankfurt or Zurich on Gopaxo by entering the city pair and the travel date. Travellers planning a longer European trip from the new hub may also want to read our guide to the Paris–Munich high-speed line 2026, which uses the Stuttgart–Ulm high-speed line as one of its segments.
Summary
- Stuttgart 21's new underground through-station opens on Sunday 6 December 2026, ending more than fifteen years of construction.
- The old Bonatz-Bau terminus is disconnected from the rail network on the same day; the S-Bahn continues to run on the upper level.
- ICE services to Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg no longer reverse in Stuttgart, cutting journey times by 10 to 15 minutes.
- A new direct IC/ICE link to Zurich and a one-change connection to Stuttgart Airport via the Filder Tunnel also enter service.
- The new Stuttgart Flughafen Bahnhof opens the same day and becomes the city's first long-distance stop at the airport.
- The Deutschlandticket covers regional trains at the new station; ICE / IC tickets and Interrail / Eurail passes are accepted as on the rest of the German network.
- Compare Stuttgart's new ICE services with FlixBus and flights on Gopaxo, and browse the rest of the Paris–Munich editorial guide for the wider European context.
