Construction Starts on Germany's Pfaffensteig Rail Tunnel, With Two TBMs Planned
Construction has begun on the approximately 11-kilometre Pfaffensteig railway tunnel near Stuttgart, Germany, according to Tunneling Online. The project is a key part of the Gäubahn railway expansion and Stuttgart 21, with an opening planned for the end of 2033.
The tunnel is intended to connect Stuttgart Airport with the existing rail network. Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are planned to excavate approximately 9.8 kilometres of the route.
What to watch during construction
The planned use of two TBMs makes their deployment and progress important factors to follow as the project advances. The approximately 9.8-kilometre TBM scope is shorter than the stated overall tunnel length, so it should not be treated as the full length of the project.
The intended airport connection will depend on completion of the wider project. Further construction updates will help establish how work is progressing toward the planned opening at the end of 2033.
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