Rastatt Tunnel on the Karlsruhe–Basel line to open by end of 2026

The roughly 4.3 km twin-tube Rastatt Tunnel (planning section 1.2) runs beneath the town of Rastatt and will allow train speeds up to 250 km/h on the Karlsruhe–Basel upgrade/new-build line, the core of the Rotterdam–Genoa rail corridor. The western tube is largely complete, and since September 2025 both tubes have had ballastless track and access slabs installed. Commissioning is planned for end of 2026, with the Rhine Valley line rerouted back in 2027; no investment cost figure is given on the project page. Update (5 Jun 2026): The new Kreuzacker interlocking has controlled signals between the Bashaide junction, the Rastatt tunnel and Rastatt Süd since 16 March 2026; together with the Bashaide and Rastatt Süd interlockings it is linked to the Karlsruhe operations centre. On the night of 5 June 2026 DB energised the 15,000-volt overhead line from Rheinstetten to Bietigheim, with the section to Rastatt Süd including the tunnel following overnight on 11 June; opening remains planned for the end of 2026 (LOK Report, 5 Jun 2026). Update (17 Sep 2026): DB InfraGO names the timetable change on 13 December 2026 as the date on which the ETCS-equipped section from the Bashaide junction through the Rastatt tunnel to the Rastatt-Süd crossover enters service. A pre-operation phase with non-commercial test runs is planned from 23 November 2026, with a registration deadline for railway undertakings of 19 October 2026 (LOK Report, 17 Sep 2026).