The German rail infrastructure company, Deutsche Bahn, will bear the substantial additional costs associated with the Stuttgart 21 railway project, following a ruling by the Higher Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg. The court rejected an application to appeal a decision made by the Stuttgart Administrative Court on May 9, 2024, solidifying the lower court’s judgment.
The Higher Administrative Court stated that Deutsche Bahn had not presented any compelling arguments justifying the appeal. The company’s own representations indicated no serious doubts concerning the accuracy of the original ruling, with the legal dispute deemed to lack unusual factual or legal complexities and no procedural errors identified.
Deutsche Bahn had previously sought financial support of €4.7 billion from the state of Baden-Württemberg, the city of Stuttgart, the Stuttgart Region Association and Stuttgart Airport. The company proposed covering €2.5 billion of the overall project cost itself. However, the Stuttgart Administrative Court dismissed Deutsche Bahn’s claim, citing existing contractual limitations that cap state contributions at €4.5 billion, outlining provisions for discussions only in the event of unforeseen and further cost increases.
The Higher Administrative Court’s decision, formalized in a ruling dated August 1, 2025 (Case No. 14 S 1737/24), renders the Stuttgart Administrative Court’s decision legally binding.
