Weekend Deviation – Stuttgart Railway Station

I’ve only been there once or twice but Stuttgart Railway Station does seem worth saving to me and nice to see some people getting out on the streets to save it too. A mix of preservationists, historians, ecologists and environmentalists have been battling against “Stuttgart 21” — a multi-billion-dollar plan to reconstruct the city’s train station. As you may have read the other weekend an otherwise peaceful rally against the destruction of the historic old Stuttgart Station building turned nasty and the German cops brought out the water cannons- 100 protesters, including some young children, were injured. As elections are upcoming in Baden-Württemberg, of which Stuttgart is the capital, Angela Merkel and her CDU may find themselves out on their ear for backing “Stuttgart 21”.

Under the “Stuttgart 21” plan the historic railway station in Stuttgart will be partly destroyed. Advocates say this is in keeping with modern times and high speed rail while protesters have a range of objections including the cost in these recessionary times (US$5.7 billion), the loss of 300 trees (some 200 years old)and the loss of the station building when other cities have managed to integrate and revive old stations (not least London’s now glorious again St Pancras which is both marvellous, awe inspiring and functions as a domestic railway, Eurostar station and transport hub to the tube etc rather well while also having all the usual revenue earning hotel, restaurants, pubs and shops).

Good luck to the protesters – here’s an image of Stuttgart Railway Station that hopefully prove it is worth saving: