New trains on the Gäubahn: every hour from Stuttgart to Zurich – Stuttgart
A new Intercity double-decker train went into operation at the main train station on Monday. The trains will only run to the main station until 2025. After that, Stuttgart-Vaihingen will initially be the terminus.
Stuttgart – A short countdown and it’s already time for State Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) and Berthold Huber, Board Member for Passenger Transport at Deutsche Bahn, on platform five of Stuttgart Central Station on Monday lunchtime: water march. Shortly after 3 p.m., the two of them named the new Kiss double-decker IC of the railway with water from the Neckar with the name “Gäu”. The intercity train from the Swiss manufacturer Stadler will in future run between Stuttgart and Zurich. “The special thing about these trains is that they are equipped with the Swiss train control system. That used to lead to problems. This makes the connection more reliable. And you can get to Zurich without having to change trains, ”says Huber. Minister Hermann also emphasized how important the new trains are for the Gäubahn and this for the German clock.
More comfort for the train passengers
In addition to the technical details, the new Intercity also means a significant gain in passenger comfort: “We have four travel cafes and service at the seat in all classes, and window panes that allow cellular communications have been installed,” Huber continues. Passengers can experience this comfort on the route from Stuttgart to Zurich, but only from December 2022. Then the intercity trains on the Gäubahn should be on the go every hour.
Criticism of early stop in Vaihingen
The main station will only go until 2025. After that, the final stop for the Gäubahn will first be in Stuttgart-Vaihingen due to construction work on the Stuttgart – Ulm railway project, confirms Jörg Hamann, Head of Communication for the Stuttgart – Ulm Railway Project at Deutsche Bahn. A fact that not everyone agrees with. The Ecological Transport Club Germany (VCD) Landesverband Baden-Württemberg emphasized in a press release on Monday that an interruption of the connection planned as part of Stuttgart 21 would not be acceptable for the passengers of the Gäubahn. Hamann refers to reports that show that a stop in Vaihingen is acceptable and that many Gäubahn passengers also have advantages.