Compiled by USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs
The digitization of the Stuttgart S-Bahn main line is entering the final phase with construction set to continue this summer. Beginning at 1:30 a.m. on July 20 through Sept. 12 at 4 am, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is continuing renovations of the inner-city tunnel section between Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and Stuttgart-Vaihingen. During this time, S-Bahn trains will not run to the stations Hauptbahnhof (tief), Stadtmitte, Feuersee, Schwabstraße, Universität and Österfeld.
The work is part of a multi-year project centering on digitizing and improving the decades-old tunnel segment to increase capacity. The summer closure, which began in 2021, is planned during the summer in hopes that schoolchildren and commuters are affected as little as possible.
Expect longer transit times while the work is completed
USAG Stuttgart community members are highly encouraged to use mobile apps such as DB Navigator, SSB Move, and VVS Mobil during the closure period. These apps will use the adjusted routes and schedule when determining the best way from one location to another and also provide live information about any temporary closures or adjustments on a particular day. Information is also available from DB Regio customer service at CIV: 0711-469-282-5387.
Operating concept for main line closure (as of July 20, 2026)
- S-Bahn trains will run every half hour on modified lines, as in previous years, and will stop at the main train station (above) on platforms 1 to 4.
- A replacement bus service (SEV1) between Stuttgart Hbf, Arnulf-Klett-Platz and Stuttgart-Vaihingen, ZOB serves the inner-city S-Bahn stations.
- Additional regional express trains run as a shuttle service (RE shuttle) between Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, Stuttgart-Vaihingen and Böblingen.
Buses will run to the S-Bahn stations along the main line
During the construction work, buses will run to the inner-city S-Bahn stations along the main line. These buses are specially marked as rail replacement services (SEV).
- Buses on line SEV1 will run between Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (Arnulf-Klett-Platz) and Stuttgart-Vaihingen (Bahnhof)
- The SEV1 buses run every 10 minutes. On school days, from Monday to Friday, the buses run continuously every 5 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. During school holidays, the buses run every 5 minutes during peak hours (6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) from Monday to Friday. From approximately 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the SEV1 buses from Stuttgart Central Station to Stuttgart-Vaihingen will stop at the following temporary replacement stops: Österreichischer Platz instead of Wilhelmsbau and Silberburg-/Reinsburgstraße instead of Feuersee. In the opposite direction, from Vaihingen to the Central Station, the following stops will be used: Schwabstraße (position 2) instead of Schwabstraße (position 3); Schwab-/Bebelstraße instead of Feuersee and Rosenberg-/Seidenstraße instead of Stadtmitte. Due to these temporary route changes, some departure times may also be affected.
- The SEV3 runs from Monday to Friday at 4:50 am as a direct connection from the main train station (Arnulf-Klett-Platz, Pos 7.) to Stuttgart Airport/Messe, Stuttgart Airport Busterminal (SAB) and replaces the S-Bahn airport early connection.
Follow Deutsche Bahn detour signs to bus stops or ask a DB employee for help
You can follow the green and purple floor markings to your replacement bus service.
Deutsche Bahn marks routes along the ground that say Ersatzverkehr (Replacement) or Haltestelle Ersatzverkehr (Stop Replacement). DB also deploys service staff to make changing between S-Bahn trains and buses run as smoothly as possible. Look for staff wearing high-visibility vests to get your questions answered.
Additional construction work on some S-Bahn and regional services
- From Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 a.m. to Saturday, Aug. 22 at 12:15 a.m., due to maintenance work on the Prag Tunnel, only two of the four tracks between Feuerbach and Nordbahnhof will be available. S4 and S5 trains will be diverted and will not stop in Feuerbach. The S6 line will only run between Weil der Stadt and Feuerbach, and the S60 line only between Böblingen and Zuffenhausen.
- From Saturday, Aug. 22 at 1:30 a.m. to Monday, Sept. 7 at 5 a.m., due to the construction of the new railway bridge over August-Bebel-Straße in Ludwigsburg, S5 line trains between Ludwigsburg and Bietigheim-Bissingen will be canceled and replaced by buses. The replacement bus service for regional trains is still being finalized.
- From Monday, Sept. 7 at 5 a.m. to Friday, Sept. 11 at 5 a.m, DB InfraGO is renewing tracks between Leonberg and Ditzingen. S-Bahn line S6 trains are running on two sections: Weil der Stadt–Leonberg and Ditzingen–Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (above). Replacement buses (S6E) are running between Leonberg and Ditzingen . S60 trains are only running between Böblingen and Leonberg. From 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., replacement buses (S60E) are running between Leonberg and Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
Detailed information on construction work in the S-Bahn network can be found at s-bahn-stuttgart.de/betriebslage Alternative travel connections and further information can be found in the DB Navigator and VVS Mobil apps , or at vvs.de.
(Info from Deutsche Bahn, July 2026)