Wendlingen–Ulm high-speed railway

Wendlingen–Ulm high-speed railway
Overview of the high-speed line
Overview
Native nameNeubaustrecke Wendlingen–Ulm
Line number4813
LocaleBaden-Württemberg, Germany
Technical
Line length59.575 km (37.018 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius2,305 m (7,562 ft)
Electrification15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed250 km/h (155 mph)
SignallingETCS Level 2
Maximum incline
  • in Ulm Hbf: 3.5%
  • open line: 3.1% (exceptional)
  • otherwise: 2.5%
Route map

29.314
Wendlingen Neckar bridge (136 m)
Wendlingen am Neckar
tunnel (375 m)
Neckartal junction Little Wendlingen Curve
to Neckar-Alb Railway
30.168
freight connection tunnel (203 m)
freight connection from Wendlingen
30.537
Wendlingen Rübholz junction
38.342
Eastern portal Albvorland Tunnel
38.375
Nabern
(crossover)
Lindach rail bridge
Former Kirchheim–Weilheim railway
43.320
Aichelberg Tunnel (252 m)
45.367
54.18
Fils Viaduct (~485 m), Geislingen–Wiesensteig railway
54.651
Steinbühl Tunnel (4847 m)
59.962
Tunnel under the A8 (378 m)
60.845
Merklingen-Widderstall
(crossover)
61.225
Widderstall Tunnel (962 m)
63.866
Merklingen
65.012
Merklingen Tunnel (384 m)
72.721
Imberg Tunnel
(499 m)
Portal Dornstadt
Albabstieg Tunnel (5897 m)
Fils VR–Ulm Rbf connecting line
87.874
Portal Ulm
Fils Valley Railway from Stuttgart
89.373
Ulm Hbf
Source: German railway atlas

The Wendlingen-Ulm high-speed line is a high-speed railway in Germany, entirely within the state of Baden-Württemberg. The line crosses the Swabian Jura mountain range, with trains traveling at speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph). It mostly follows the A8 motorway, connecting with the Neu-Ulm station in the east and Stuttgart in the west. Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is currently being redeveloped as part of the Stuttgart 21 project.

As a section of the Stuttgart–Augsburg new and upgraded line, the Wendlingen-Ulm line is a component of the Magistrale for Europe from Paris to Budapest, which is supported by the European Union as part of its Trans-European Networks. The European Union provided up to 50 per cent funding of the planning phase of the project and ten per cent of its construction costs.