Infrastructure is being built for future generations - first of the large eight tunnels is being mined. Construction site tours and open days are important tools for promoting the project.

"The breakthrough of the Steinbühl Tunnel is taking place six months earlier than planned," said Georg Brunnhuber, Chairman of the Stuttgart-Ulm Rail Project Association, at the symbolic ceremony marking the breakthrough of the Steinbühl Tunnel (4,847 meters) on Friday, November 06, 2015 in Hohenstadt. "Infrastructure is always built for future generations," Brunnhuber continued, referring to the Albaufstieg, which has been in operation since 1850. "Across all party lines, the new line is also recognized as a necessary and important infrastructure project." As is well known, this only exists in a double pack with Stuttgart 21. "In all humility before the time dimensions and the performance of the miners, it fills me with pride and joy that the first of the large eight tunnels has now completed the mining work," Brunnhuber added and continued to wish all workers: "Good luck!"

As guests, Brunnhuber was able to welcome, among others, the Minister of Finance and Economics, Nils Schmid, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Norbert Barthle, the Chairman of the Management Board of DB Projekt Stuttgart-Ulm GmbH Manfred Leger, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PORR AG, Hans Wenkenbach, and the Mayor of Hohenstadt, Günter Riebort.

Manfred Leger, Chairman of the Management Board of DB Projekt Stuttgart-Ulm GmbH, said at the ceremony: "I would like to pay tribute to the miners and engineers from the railroad and construction companies. The speed at which the tunnel was constructed, despite the fact that the conditions at the Albaufstieg are considered to be rather difficult from a geological point of view, is impressive. With their performance, everyone has made a decisive contribution to the fact that, at the end of this year, we have already excavated almost a third of all the tunnels in the entire project. That fills me with great joy."

Norbert Barthle: "This year we are investing a good 4.4 billion euros in the railroads. We are providing over 1.5 billion euros a year for new construction and expansion. The new Wendlingen-Ulm line will also benefit from this. Today's tunnel breakthrough marks a milestone for the overall project, which will ensure faster travel times and more capacity between Stuttgart and Ulm."

Norbert Barthle: "This year we are investing a good 4.4 billion euros in the railroads. We are providing over 1.5 billion euros a year for new construction and expansion. The new Wendlingen-Ulm line will also benefit from this. Today's tunnel breakthrough marks a milestone for the overall project, which will ensure faster travel times and more capacity between Stuttgart and Ulm."

Hans Wenkenbach, COO of PORR AG: "During the construction of the Steinbühl Tunnel, one thing became very clear: Even in a challenging environment, a project can be successfully implemented without delays and avoidable additional costs if client and contractor communicate at eye level and internal cooperation is optimally coordinated. On behalf of PORR and our ARGE partners Hinteregger, Östu Stettin and Swietelski, it is a personal matter for me to thank DB, in particular Manfred Leger, Chairman of the Management Board of DB Projekt Stuttgart-Ulm, and his team."

Günter Riebort: "I have great respect for the very good performance of the miners and the completion of the mining work in the Steinbühl Tunnel 6 months ahead of schedule."

Brunnhuber pointed out that on Saturday (07.11.) the construction site would also be open to interested visitors and that the association had arranged a bus shuttle from Laichingen airfield.

"People want to visit the construction site and we are overwhelmed by the demand for site tours and guided tours of the construction site," says Brunnhuber, pleased with the rush. "For this reason, together with the project company, we try to open the construction sites whenever construction operations permit." This, he says, is an important tool for building trust among citizens and promoting the project.

Further information on the Stuttgart-Ulm rail project is available on the project homepage: www.bahnprojekt-stuttgart-ulm.de