DB Projekt Stuttgart-Ulm GmbH celebrated the tunnel breakthrough of the east tube of the Albabstieg Tunnel in Ulm with the participation of numerous guests of honor.

"Baden-Württemberg, Germany and Europe are benefiting greatly from the Stuttgart-Ulm rail project. Today's breakthrough after more than twelve kilometers of tunnel driving is an important milestone in the history of the rail project and the result of outstanding engineering and construction work," said Dr. Rüdiger Grube, Chairman of the Board of Management of Deutsche Bahn AG, in his speech.

"In less than two and a half years, the miners have driven more than twelve kilometers of tunnel - this shows that the rapid construction of major transport projects in Germany is possible. My sincere thanks to all those here at Albabstieg who are ensuring more Europe-wide mobility by rail," said Norbert Barthle, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport.

"The new Stuttgart-Ulm line will bring the Ulm and Upper Swabia region a whole lot closer to the state capital and Stuttgart Airport. The people and the economy of the Ulm region will have the greatest advantage," said Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport of the State of Baden-Württemberg.

"From the very beginning, the city and the region have actively campaigned for the new line with one voice. It was always clear to us how important this line extension is and what significance it will have for us economically! From our point of view, this is truly a project of the century and in terms of its importance it is quite comparable with Ulm's connection to the rail network almost 200 years ago. With its own "City Bahnhof Ulm" project, the city will therefore do everything it can to ensure that the "added value" of this line actually comes to fruition and that Ulm becomes the mobility hub of the region," said Gunter Czisch, Lord Mayor of the City of Ulm.

"The breakthrough of the Albabstieg tunnel is a further milestone in the implementation of the Magistrale for Europe TEN 17," said Karl Michael Scheufele, District President of Swabia. "The fact that we are celebrating this tunnel breakthrough today is due not least to the commitment of the local citizens, who recognized the enormous future prospects of this high-speed rail project for our economic region and made the right decision," said Dr. Peter Kulitz, President of the Ulm Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

"As a Württemberg company, we are particularly pleased to be playing a major role in bringing the state cities of Stuttgart and Ulm closer together. This tunnel breakthrough is not only an important milestone in the construction of the overall NBS Wendlingen-Ulm project, it also symbolizes the pride of the tunnel builders and the reward for all the efforts that have been made here underground," said Edgar Schömig, CEO of Ed. Züblin AG.

"I am delighted at the splendid development of my godchild, the Albabstieg Tunnel. Today, it has come a great deal closer to completion and, as the earthly representative of St. Barbara, I hope that the further work will also proceed smoothly until completion," said tunnel godmother Gerlinde Kretschmann.

"We are particularly pleased with the warm welcome we have received here in Ulm! My heartfelt thanks go to all the engineers and miners for their outstanding work on the Albabstieg Tunnel," said Manfred Leger, Chairman of the Management Board of DB Projekt Stuttgart-Ulm GmbH.

"For many years, our association members have been committed to this promising infrastructure. With the tunnel breakthroughs in Ulm and in mid-December in Stuttgart, the project's namesake cornerstones have become reality. We owe the fact that planning has become reality to clever minds and hardworking hands," said Georg Brunnhuber, Chairman of the Stuttgart-Ulm Rail Project Association.

Later in the breakthrough ceremony, the last meter of rock was cut through in the east tube of the Alb Abstieg Tunnel.