Summer construction work impacts S-Bahn (July 27 – Sept. 6)

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In: Culture & Leisure, Top Stories, Translated Local News
The map above shows the connections of the Stuttgart S-Bahn network during the tunnel closure and other works during Summer 2024. Tap to view larger. Graphic courtesy Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart.

Compiled by USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

S-Bahn tunnel closure and replacement services Jul. 27 – Sept. 6

The Stuttgart S-Bahn’s central trunk route and tunnel will be closed for six weeks — from 10:30 p.m. on July 26, 2024 until the morning of Sept. 6 — to accommodate track modernization/maintenance and the renovation of stations along the segment.

During this time, S-Bahn trains will not serve the stations at Stadtmitte, Feuersee, Schwabstrasse, Universität, or Österfeld, and will stop on the upper (oben) level of the main station/Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) instead of the usual underground platform (tief). The S-Bahn will also be running a modified route network during the closure, which takes place during the traditional summer vacation period in Germany.

The way to the replacement (SEV) bus stops serving stations affected by the tunnel closure are clearly marked with directional lines on the ground and bilingual signs. Photos by Bardia Khajenoori, USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs.

Throughout the construction period, several services will be temporarily unavailable:

  • From Saturday, July 27, no train services will run between Stuttgart Hbf and Stuttgart-Vaihingen. From Tuesday, July 30, to Thursday, August 1, 2024, trains will also not be able to run between Stuttgart-Vaihingen and Böblingen or Filderstadt. A replacement bus service will be set up for S-Bahn, regional and long-distance trains. 
  • The railroad line between Reutlingen and Tübingen will be closed. From Monday, July 29, 9 p.m., until Monday, September 9, 2024, 9 p.m., buses will run for passengers.
  • From July 30 to August 1, trains on the S-Bahn line S60 Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen – Böblingen will run from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen via Leonberg, Renningen, Böblingen to Herrenberg as the new S61 construction site line, replacing the S1 trains between Böblingen and Herrenberg. 
  • The Filderbahn is closed to all train traffic from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 27, 2024. The S2 and S3 trains will be replaced by buses (S2E). Passengers can alternatively use the light rail line U5 between Stuttgart Hbf (Arnulf-Klett-Platz) and Leinfelden. 

Two replacement bus services will offer connections between affected stations:

  • SEV 1 runs between Stuttgart Hbf (Arnulf-Klett-Platz) and Stuttgart-Vaihingen (ZOB/Bussteig 1), with stops at Stadtmitte (Wilhelmsbau/Büchsenstraße), Feuersee, Schwabstraße, Westbahnhof, Universität and Österfeld (Alter Friedhof).
    • The line runs approximately every ten minutes. On weekdays during peak times (6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.), the buses run every 5 minutes.
    • On Saturday, July 27, 2024, the CSD demonstration of Stuttgart PRIDE will pass through the city center. From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., the SEV1 replacement buses will run in both directions without stopping between the university and the main railway station.
  • SEV 3 offers an early morning airport connection once a day, Monday-Friday, departing Stuttgart Hbf at 4:50 a.m. and arriving at the airport at 5:18 a.m.

Furthermore, on the express bus route X60 Leonberg-Airport/Messe, additional buses will run between the stops Leonberg Bahnhof and Stuttgart Universität (Schleife) during peak times, extending the service to every quarter of an hour. At the Universitätsstraße stop (four minutes’ walk), there is a connection to the SEV1 replacement bus. DB recommends renting a bicycle or pedelec from RegioRadStuttgart for traveling short distances in the city center.

Bus stops are marked in English and German with the line and direction the bus serves, and the way to the temporary stops are marked with colored lines on the ground from S-Bahn station entrances. The routes to the stops where the buses marked as replacement services depart are marked by the railroad with green floor lines. Service staff wearing high-visibility vests can assist you with changes between S-Bahn trains and buses. 

The Deutsche Bahn also offers several replacement trains to aid travel.

  • From August 2, 2024, a shuttle service with regional express trains (RE-Pendel) between Stuttgart Hbf, Vaihingen, and Böblingen will run approximately every hour. Regional trains between Stuttgart Hbf and Rottweil or Freudenstadt will supplement the journeys every two hours and will also stop in Vaihingen.
  • The U1 U-Bahn line will also be extended from Heslach to Vaihingen during weekdays at peak hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.). Aside from this, and additional connections being offered on some routes to meet expected demand, the U-Bahn and bus systems are not affected by this closure.

Some regional trains may have alternate start/end points due to limited capacity at the main station and on above-ground tracks not normally used by the S-Bahn. Changes in timetables that occur from July 26-27 and occasional S-Bahn train cancellations may also affect travel.

Community members are highly recommended to use mobile apps such as DB Navigator, SSB Move, and VVS Mobil during the closure period. These apps will use the adjusted routes and schedule when determining the best way from one location to another, and also provide live information about any temporary closures or adjustments on a particular day. Information is also available from the DB Regio customer dialog at the telephone number 0711 4692825387.

The work is part of a multi-year project centering on digitizing and improving the decades-old tunnel segment to increase capacity. Summer closures began in 2021 and will also occur in 2025. Construction is scheduled to be completed next year.

For additional information (in German), visit the VVS website or the S-Bahn website.

Additional restrictions between July 31 (1:30 a.m.) and Aug. 2 (4 a.m.)

The map above shows the connections of the Stuttgart S-Bahn network during the period between July 31 (1:30 a.m.) and Aug. 2 (4 a.m.), when further restrictions are in place due to construction work in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Tap to view larger.
Graphic courtesy Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart.

Due to extensive construction work in Stuttgart Vaihingen, additional restrictions apply:

  • Line S1 is cancelled between Vaihingen and Herrenberg.
  • Line S2 is cancelled between Vaihingen and Filderstadt.
  • The S3 line is cancelled between Vaihingen and the airport/trade fair.
  • The S60 line will be extended from Böblingen to Herrenberg.
  • The IC trains will no longer run between the main station and Böblingen and will run every two hours between Böblingen and Singen – Zurich.

The following replacement services will be set up:

  • Main line closure bus SEV1 Main Station – Vaihingen
  • S1E Vaihingen – Boeblingen
  • S2E Vaihingen – Filderstadt
  • S2X Vaihingen – Airport (without stopping)
  • RB14E Hauptbahnhof – Böblingen (single trips only, without stopping in Vaihingen)