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21st century railroading

The rail project has stirred huge controversy. While proponents hope for better infrastructure, opponents criticise its mounting costs and the damage it does to the environment.

https://p.dw.com/p/17YCW

Gegner des Bahnprojekts Stuttgart 21 demonstrieren am Samstag (09.07.2011) vor dem Hauptbahnhof in Stuttgart. Zur Großdemo mit anschließender Menschenkette um den Bahnhof kamen mehrere tausend Menschen. Foto: Franziska Kraufmann dpa/lsw +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ — Image: picture-alliance/dpa

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The 'Stuttgart 21' train station project in the southern German city of the same name has been controversial from the very beginning. Proponents hope the new, modern 'drive-thru' station will improve the city's economic and tourism prospects. Opponents criticize the high cost of the project and alleged damage to the environment.

DW takes a closer look at the arguments on both sides.

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Demonstrators

Demonstrators

Train to nowhere

A highly contested railway project in the city of Stuttgart will now be put to a referendum.

POD 1708 Protest against Stuttgart 21

englisch: POD 1708 Protest against Stuttgart 21 - Produziert: 17.08.2010 - 19:02:58 von Borrud, Gabriel

A white balloon with 'I heart S21 written on it

A white balloon with 'I heart S21 written on it

Full speed ahead

Baden-Württemberg votes in favor of the controversial renovation of Stuttgart's train station.

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Train Station Project Stuttgart 21 - Baden-Württemberg in the Run-up to a Referendum

On November 27, people in Baden-Württemberg will vote in the state's very first referendum: on whether the state should cancel its commitment to co-financing the project.

Demonstrators hold a banner with the words Stuttgart 21 crossed through in red

Demonstrators hold a banner with the words Stuttgart 21 crossed through in red

Stuttgart 21

Deutsche Bahn orders a work freeze on the rail project until a state government is sworn in.

Constant Conflict - Stuttgart 21, and a Stress Test for Baden-Württemberg's Governing Coalition

Stuttgart 21, a large-scale transport project in the city of Stuttgart, is still proving to be a controversial topic. The train station passed a recent "stress test," but the Green Party has rejected the result. Meanwhile, their coalition partners, the Social Democrats, want to move forward with the project. One year on, Stuttgart 21 is still a divisive issue for both politicians and the public.

A police officer standing in front of the remnants of a protest camp at Stuttgart's Schlossgarten part

A police officer standing in front of the remnants of a protest camp at Stuttgart's Schlossgarten part

Police clear Stuttgart 21 site

Police have cleared a construction site of demonstrators who were trying to prevent a controversial train station project from going ahead. The move follows a referendum in which a majority voted for 'Stuttgart 21.'

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Neue Proteste gegen Stuttgart 21 # 29.07.2011 16 Uhr # Journal Englisch

Is it right to spend 10 billion euros on a new train station in Stuttgart? That question brought thousands of Germans onto the streets last year. It also helped a center-left coalition end more than sixty years of conservative governance in the state of Baden Würrtemberg. One issue is whether or not the new station provides value for money. The results of a feasibility test on the new design have been released. But supporters and opponents of the project disagree over what the results mean.

A hard hat on building plans (Photo: Fotolia)

A hard hat on building plans (Photo: Fotolia)

Errors in the system

Many mistakes on large construction sites could be prevented if the process were changed.

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Rail Project Stuttgart 21 - The citizens’ revolt # 10.09.2010 # People and Politics

Stuttgart main station is being demolished and rebuilt underground as part of a huge infrastructure project costing billions of euros. But protests have accompanied the arrival of the wrecking ball. Technical studies have been called into doubt, more and more locals are skeptical about the point of the gigantic project.