Stuttgart 21 is 500 million euros more expensive – and finish later – SPIEGEL ONLINE

There is bad news. There are unfavorable times. And there is news that easy to get a damn inconvenient time. Just as reached on Friday, as a multi-page document, the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bahn for the meeting of the supervisory body in mid-June.

A few days after Switzerland has demonstrated all over the world with the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, as major projects are successfully managed, suffers currently the largest infrastructure project in the Federal Republic another setback.

The path which had 21 previously estimated cost of nearly six billion euros for Stuttgart, now fears that there are more than 6.5 billion euros. These are a good 500 million euros in addition

The small bright spot this grim news is that the now calculated amount of 6.511 billion euros still within those 6.526 billion Euro is that the Supervisory Board as a funding framework three years ago -. So had voted – the upper limit included generous risk buffer. In the base of the control panel so it is soothingly: “The survey shows that even with complete commitment of the established schedule and cost risks as defined in 2013, and to the Supervisory financing framework will be respected.”

For a strictly mathematical observation agrees that however remains up to this limit only a mini-buffer of 15 million euros -. On the total cost of 6.5 billion euros based these are just some 0.2 Percent. In addition, the new amount is not too far removed from those 6.8 billion euros that were once defined by the path as an absolute pain threshold.

“New, externally induced risks Since 2013″

The problem is also that the exuberant cost increase of more than 500 million euros within three years found. Especially Stuttgart 21 is always more than reality model yet, just 1.5 billion euros have so far been installed – and thus less than a quarter of now assumed total cost.

The fact that the next comprehensive cost estimate, which is expected to take place in two to three years, is again more expensive, although from today’s perspective speculation. Experience shows, however, that megaprojects typically over time can not be cheaper. By 2009, believed the railway, Stuttgart 21 is to be had for around three billion euros. Now, it would already be a huge success for the company, if it were more than twice as much.

However, the web is not solely responsible for the financial mess. As is apparent from the controversial document further, the cost increase is mainly due to “new, externally induced risks Since 2013″ back. Among other things, the escape routes in the new central station had to be rescheduled consuming tunneling new methods are used, and the requirements for noise abatement have increased.

Alone additional 45 million euro expenditure calculated the group because it has a handful of trees, where hermit live or suspected, not allowed to cut, and because he has to resettle around ten thousand lizards. With well over 160 million euros extra costs calculates the track, because the zoning procedure for individual construction phases last longer and approvals from authorities are granted later than estimated.

After all, the company now wants to try to limit the cost increase. With countless measures should be taken to ensure that the original timetable is halfway the scale again. it is faster precede the construction work, the better: Finally applies. Every year delay in Stuttgart 21 will cost 100 million euros. Therefore, the railway proposes the boards of, among other things, to certain phases to increase the working hours or to refrain from laying the A8. The document states that the Board “aspire to”, so the originally agreed budget and the planned date for the start-up observe the end of the 2021st

Those seeking something has faith but often long lost. In Group therefore hear, instead of opening in December 2021 rather 2023 was realistic. Mind you: This is the level of mid 2016. In seven and a half years can do much to happen.