Germany's Pfaffensteig Tunnel to transform rail travel in the southwest
A major railway upgrade is underway in southwestern Germany as part of the Gäu Railway modernisation. The centrepiece of the project is the new Pfaffensteig Tunnel, a key link designed to improve rail connections in the region. The scheme is being delivered under an innovative partnership model to speed up construction and cut costs. The project is split into two main parts: a long underground tunnel and an above-ground route. The 11-kilometre twin-tube tunnel will run beneath the A8 motorway and the new high-speed line, connecting Stuttgart Airport’s long-distance station with the existing Gäu Railway. Two tunnel boring machines will excavate the structure, which will carry single-track lines in each direction.
Above ground, a roughly 3-kilometre section will be fully upgraded for trains travelling at up to 200 km/h. This segment includes a 240-metre tunnel, a trough structure, and several retaining walls, railway underpasses, and a grade-separated junction. The entire upgrade aims to modernise the line and boost capacity.
Several divisions of the Strabag Group are involved in the work, including Ed. Züblin AG and Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG. The project is being delivered under the Rail Partnership Model, also known as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), which encourages closer collaboration between contractors and planners. Once complete, the Pfaffensteig Tunnel will form a vital part of Germany’s rail network, supporting faster and more reliable services. The upgrade will also contribute to the country’s push for sustainable transport by improving connections between Stuttgart Airport and the wider Gäu Railway line.
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