Deutsche Bahn Launched the Construction of the
Wartberg Tunnel in October 2026
On 5 October 2026, Deutsche Bahn began tunnelling work on the Wartberg Tunnel, a key component of the so-called “P-Option” (Prag Option). By adding a third and fourth track between Stuttgart Central Station and Stuttgart-Feuerbach, the federal government and the state of Baden-Württemberg are creating the conditions for the further expansion of the northern approach as part of the “Deutschlandtakt” (Germany-wide integrated timetable) and, even before that, providing additional flexibility at the Stuttgart transport hub. The transport scientist and originator of Stuttgart 21, Professor Gerhard Heimerl, had already considered this expansion option for increased rail traffic in his basic concept for Stuttgart 21.
The Wartberg Tunnel branches off from the new Cannstatt Tunnel in the vicinity of the Nordbahnhof and runs for around 700 metres in two tubes towards Feuerbach. The tracks then run briefly above ground into the existing historic Pragtunnel, which Deutsche Bahn will comprehensively modernise.
In July 2022, the Federal Ministry of Transport, the state and Deutsche Bahn agreed on the construction of the P-option and its funding under the federal programme in accordance with the Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG). The planning was carried out on behalf of the state. The necessary junction structures in the Cannstatt Tunnel have been completed since spring 2026. This ensures that the construction of the P-Option will not disrupt train services following the commissioning of Stuttgart 21. In summer 2026, the Federal Railway Authority approved the construction of the Wartberg Tunnel, meaning that Deutsche Bahn can now commence tunnelling.
P-Option
The P-Option is approximately two kilometres long. Of the 700 metres of the Wartberg Tunnel, around 600 metres will be constructed by conventional underground tunnelling methods and around 100 metres by open-cut construction. The length of each of the junction structures is 100 metres. The long-distance railway tunnel of the twin-tube Pragtunnel, which is over 100 years old, is also part of the P-Option; consequently, the 680-metre-long tunnel is being modernised for future use.
