Deutsche Bahn has confirmed that the tracks between Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt and Fellbach will be completely closed from 24 February to 25 March as part of the digital upgrade of Germany’s most ambitious rail project, Stuttgart 21. The blockade allows engineers to install European Train Control System (ETCS) equipment and to decommission conventional signalling.
During the closure, all S-Bahn services on the busy S2 line will be replaced by shuttle buses, while regional expresses such as the MEX 90 and RE 90 will be diverted via the ‘little Murrbahn’, adding up to 25 minutes to journey times. Long-distance ICE services from Munich and Ulm will also skip Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof on 8–9 March, instead stopping at Esslingen and Vaihingen.
For international visitors who may still need a visa to enter Germany—especially those rerouting through Frankfurt or extending stays because of the disruptions—VisaHQ offers a streamlined online application service. Their dedicated Germany page (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) walks travellers through requirements, processing times and courier options, ensuring paperwork is sorted well before departure.
![Stuttgart 21 Works Will Shut Key Rail Corridor for a Month]()
The works fall in the middle of the spring trade-fair season when the Stuttgart Messe usually attracts tens of thousands of international visitors. Mobility managers are advising delegates to factor in earlier departures or to route itineraries through Frankfurt Airport with onward ICE connections that bypass the affected segment. Hotel operators around Esslingen report a spike in last-minute bookings driven by the diversion plan.
DB says the closure is unavoidable because ETCS requires integrated testing of track-side and onboard units. While the digital node promises a 20 percent increase in capacity once Stuttgart 21 opens, critics argue that the protracted commissioning timetable—already delayed twice—shows that the rail operator underestimated complexity. Business groups nevertheless back the investment, noting that reliable high-frequency rail is critical for Germany’s climate targets and for corporate travellers seeking alternatives to short-haul flights.
Companies with commuter populations in the Stuttgart region should update travel-policy alerts and consider temporary remote-work arrangements to mitigate productivity losses. DB has published replacement timetables but warns that real-time data in journey-planner apps may lag during the first days of the blockade.
During the closure, all S-Bahn services on the busy S2 line will be replaced by shuttle buses, while regional expresses such as the MEX 90 and RE 90 will be diverted via the ‘little Murrbahn’, adding up to 25 minutes to journey times. Long-distance ICE services from Munich and Ulm will also skip Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof on 8–9 March, instead stopping at Esslingen and Vaihingen.
For international visitors who may still need a visa to enter Germany—especially those rerouting through Frankfurt or extending stays because of the disruptions—VisaHQ offers a streamlined online application service. Their dedicated Germany page (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) walks travellers through requirements, processing times and courier options, ensuring paperwork is sorted well before departure.
The works fall in the middle of the spring trade-fair season when the Stuttgart Messe usually attracts tens of thousands of international visitors. Mobility managers are advising delegates to factor in earlier departures or to route itineraries through Frankfurt Airport with onward ICE connections that bypass the affected segment. Hotel operators around Esslingen report a spike in last-minute bookings driven by the diversion plan.
DB says the closure is unavoidable because ETCS requires integrated testing of track-side and onboard units. While the digital node promises a 20 percent increase in capacity once Stuttgart 21 opens, critics argue that the protracted commissioning timetable—already delayed twice—shows that the rail operator underestimated complexity. Business groups nevertheless back the investment, noting that reliable high-frequency rail is critical for Germany’s climate targets and for corporate travellers seeking alternatives to short-haul flights.
Companies with commuter populations in the Stuttgart region should update travel-policy alerts and consider temporary remote-work arrangements to mitigate productivity losses. DB has published replacement timetables but warns that real-time data in journey-planner apps may lag during the first days of the blockade.
