Stuttgart 21 XVI: Elevator ride at Tunnel Construction at Ulmer Straße

Stuttgart 21 is one of the biggest construction projects in Germany. It includes the underground construction of a new central station for the city of Stuttgart as well as the creation of a new network of tracks and tunnels that allows high speed trains to pass in the area, possibly reduces travelling times and connects Stuttgart to international transport networks. It is conducted by Deutsche Bahn and co-financed by public money.
However, despite enthusiasm from its founders and the industry, the project has been heavily criticised. Not only has it become much more expensive than expected, but there are also doubts about the efficiency and safety of the new central station as well as about the actual benefit of the high speed tracks. Moreover, the construction fuelled protests and many discussions on protected buildings and nature reserves within the city such as historic parks.
Large parts of the train tracks arriving at the new station will run through underground tunnels. One of the construction sites was at Ulmer Straße just outside of the city centre. This is a recording of the elevator ride into the tunnel. The rattling of the metal “cage” that makes up the elevator and people chatting within it can be heard. These sounds are accompanied by the rushing of the large ventilator for the pit in the background.

Sound: Kathinka Engels
Photo: Konrad Gutkowski