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Union: Bahn cannot bear the additional costs of the S21 alone
The cost of the new train station as part of the multi-billion dollar Stuttgart 21 rail project continues to rise. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The construction of the underground through station in Stuttgart and the connection to Ulm has become more and more expensive over the years. There is a dispute about who will pay for the additional costs.
From the point of view of the railway and transport union (EVG), Deutsche Bahn should not be left with the billions in additional costs for the large-scale Stuttgart 21 construction project.
“We cannot accept that because it would be an additional burden for the employees,” said EVG Chairman Klaus-Dieter Hommel of the German Press Agency. “The railway cannot carry this alone. The extent to which the federal and state governments will also contribute to the additional costs must be negotiated.”
Final review awaited
The railway group is expected to inform the supervisory board this Friday about the renewed increase in the costs of the construction project. Most recently, according to reports, it was about a renewed increase from the current 8.2 billion to 9.15 billion euros. The EVG had called for the special meeting of the control body of the state-owned company. “We expect to receive a final assessment of the additional costs,” emphasized Hommel.
The union boss also demanded a clear definition of the start-up date. The construction of the underground through station in Stuttgart and the connection to Ulm had become more and more expensive over the years. The year 2025 is targeted for completion. The consulting company PwC has written an audit report on the additional costs and the further timing, which is to be presented to the supervisory board on Friday.
It is unclear who will pay for the additional costs. The federal government’s railway commissioner, Michael Theurer (FDP), recently emphasized that the responsibility for this lies with Deutsche Bahn from the point of view of the Federal Ministry of Transport. Stuttgart 21 is therefore an autonomous project of the state-owned group.