Federal Railway Authority approves Pfaffensteig Tunnel near Stuttgart

The approval clears the way for construction to start; the associations BUND, VCD and Pro Bahn and the Pro Gäubahn alliance criticise the tunnel as oversized and carbon-intensive to build, and demand that the Gäu Railway keeps its link via the Panorama Railway.

On 9 January 2026 the Federal Railway Authority issues the planning approval decision for the Pfaffensteig Tunnel, which is to link the Gäu Railway via Stuttgart airport to the Stuttgart 21 underground station. Environmental and passenger associations consider the project uneconomic and urge the federal government not to sign the financing agreement; the reports give no completion date. (LOK Report, 9 and 12 Jan 2026)