Deutsche Bahn (DB) has put into operation the Wendlingen-Ulm line on December 9, 2022, that, together with Stuttgart 21, part of the Stuttgart-Ulm rail project, and a component of the Main Line for Europe initiative, is connecting cities and regions and a total of 34 million inhabitants in five countries.
“The Wendlingen-Ulm line is one of the projects of the century, a milestone in the implementation of Germany-wide timetable integration, and the international link from Paris via Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Ulm, Munich and on to Vienna and Bratislava. The newly built line relieves pressure on the Fils Valley route, which consequently will have more capacity available for local transport and, above all, freight trains,” Michael Theurer, German Federal Government Commissioner for Rail Transport said.
With the opening of the new-build line and the timetable change on December 11, DB is speeding up long distance transport across Germany, thus making an important contribution to shifting more traffic to climate-friendly rail. Trains will now be able to cross the Swabian Alps at high speed. This will not only shorten the travel time between Stuttgart and Munich, but also make direct city connections between Munich and Frankfurt am Main or Cologne more appealing.
“The impact of the new Wendlingen-Ulm line extends far beyond the region. It is the new pacesetter for Deutsche Bahn and a central pillar of our rail network. The benefits for people and the economy are huge, even today. And they will be even bigger when Stuttgart 21 opens in three years. My special thanks go to everyone who worked on this impressive project over many years,” DB’s CEO Dr. Richard Lutz said.
The daily service on long distance routes between Stuttgart and Munich will be increased by some 20 to 90 journeys a day thanks to the new high-speed line. The region will simultaneously benefit from many new and attractive offers, one of which will be the fastest regional train in Germany, operated by DB Regio. This will be able to travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h. Furthermore, DB, the state of Baden-Württemberg, and the local association Verband Region Schwäbische Alb are opening up an entire region for rail with the brand-new station in Merklingen. This area of the Swabian Alps can now be reached directly by train, which offers both commuters and tourists an eco-friendly way to travel.
The project consisted of the construction of a 60 km railway line with 11 tunnels and 37 bridges, including a 485-meter-long and 85-meter-high Filstal Bridge, which is the third-highest rail bridge in Germany. DB has also constructed a completely new station in Merklingen. In April, DB has completed the journey trial with a train running at a speed of 250 km/h from Wendlingen to Merklingen.
Germany’s Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan identifies this project as being urgently required. The construction costs of almost EUR 4 billion were financed by the Federal Government, by the state of Baden-Württemberg and by the European Union. When Stuttgart 21 opens in 2025, travelers on regional and long-distance services will enjoy more improvements. The travel time between Stuttgart and Ulm will then be halved to around half an hour. In addition, the airport, the trade fair center and the Filder Plain will have a direct and fast rail link from and to Ulm in 2027.
Share on:
