New Stuttgart–Ulm Line: Tunnel Drive for the
“Große Wendlinger Kurve” Started
Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) began driving the tunnel for the Große Wendlinger Kurve on March 30, 2023. The existing Stuttgart–Tübingen rail line will be connected to the infrastructure being built as part of Stuttgart 21 via the Kleine and Große Wendlinger Kurve (large and small Wendlinger curve).
On March 30, 2023, the underground excavation for the tunnel of the “Große Wendlinger Kurve” started
Credit/Quelle: Jannik Walter/DB Projekt Stuttgart–Ulm
The single-track Wendlinger Kurve is part of the Stuttgart 21 project and creates a connection between the new rail infrastructure in and out of Stuttgart and the Neckartalbahn from Metzingen, Reutlingen and Tübingen.
A second track was included in Stuttgart 21 as an option without structural provisions. Due to the expected benefits of a second track for rail traffic in the region, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport commissioned Deutsche Bahn to plan this addition to the Stuttgart–Ulm rail project and to build the second track known as the Große Wendlinger Kurve.
Running parallel to the Kleine Wendlinger Kurve, the second connecting curve will leave the Neckartalbahn at the outskirts of Oberboihingen and then pass under the new Wendlingen-Ulm line in a tunnel. From there, the line will continue in the direction of the airport.
Overview of the “Große Wendlinger Kurve” as part of the Stuttgart–Ulm rail project
Credit/Quelle: DB Projekt Stuttgart–Ulm
The project was divided into two sections due to the progress of construction and planning for the new line and the Kleine Wendlinger Kurve: The first section, which has already been completed in its structural work, comprises the loop into the new line and its undercrossing. This undercrossing was constructed using the cut and cover method so as not to impede the progress of construction work on the new line. The second section comprises the tunnel to be built by underground excavation from the new Wendlingen–Ulm line to the loop out of the Neckartalbahn in Oberboihingen.
Including the above-ground section, the Große Wendlinger Kurve has a total length of around 1600 m. The mined tunnel will extend over 660 m, and the already completed cut-and-cover tunnel is 110 m long. The mined tunnel is being built by a joint venture of Ed. Züblin AG and the Max Bögl group of companies. The contract award for this tunnel project amounts to around
40 million euros. Commissioning of the Große Wendlinger Kurve is scheduled for December 2026.
