Stuttgart Stadtbahn U6 Light Rail Train from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Olgaeck

The Stuttgart Stadtbahn is a light rail system operating on a mix of grade-separated lines and street running tracks in Stuttgart, Germany. The Stuttgart Stadtbahn uses the “U” logo like the metro U-Bahn, but the “U” does not stand for untergrund (underground), but rather for unabhängig (independent). Heading to my hostel after arriving in Stuttgart from the Deutsche Bahn ICE 599 from Berlin, I took the Stuttgart Stadtbahn U6 from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Olgaeck.

Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof

There are some construction works going on to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and there are temporary diverted exits out of the station.

Follow the big green path out of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof.

Do NOT follow the signs that say Staatsgalerie if heading directly out as that is a temporary path leading to the next adjacent U-Bahn station.

The temporary walkway is wide and step-free.

Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is undergoing controversial redevelopment to Stuttgart 21.

The temporary walkway ends at the façade of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof.

Head in to the old Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof as the entrance to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations still function.

The construction works of Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (Stuttgart 21) as seen from the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof S-Bahn and U-Bahn entrance.

Heading down to the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof U-Bahn (Stadtbahn) station.

Ticket machines are available on this concourse level before heading down to the platform.

For this short journey of just 3 stations, I took up the cheap KurzstreckenTicket or Short-Distance Ticket as I will only be making this 1 Stadtbahn journey on my first day in Stuttgart, and it’s already in the evening.

The KurzstreckenTicket or Short-Distance Ticket costs €1.60 which is valid for a journey up to 3 Stadtbahn stations or 5km (whichever is nearer) after boarding to be used immediately. Change of vehicles, or interruption of the journey, and night buses are not allowed.

From Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Olgaeck, you can take U5, U6, U7, U12, or U15. These 5 lines share the same track from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Olgaeck.

Heading down to the platform for U5, U6, U7, U12, and U15.

A departing U6 was in front of me.

The interior of the SSB DT 8.14 train.

A validator is available on board in case your ticket does not come with a printed date and time.

Information screens are available on board which also provides travel time.

Olgaeck

My journey from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Olgaeck took 5 minutes.

The U6 will continue on to Flughafen/Messe (Stuttgart Airport).

Olgaeck is the transition from the underground tunnel to street running lines.

Tracks by the street are still grade separated, aside from crossings at junctions.

From here, I walked over to where I will be spending my nights in Stuttgart.

Conclusion

Overall, the Stuttgart Stadtbahn is a useful way to get from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Olgaeck, coupled with an affordable short-distance ticket. This was useful when travelling with bags. However, I was to learn that Stuttgart is quite walkable and the Stadtbahn stations are not too far apart, so this 3-station hop was actually quite walkable if I did not have bags with me.