Hanover Stadtbahn

It opened on 29 September 1975,[3] gradually replacing the city's tramway (Straßenbahn) network over the course of the subsequent 25 years.

[2] The system is run by üstra, which was originally an abbreviation for Überlandwerke und Straßenbahnen Hannover AG.

The Stadtbahn is a mixture of traditional tramways, of which 82% have been upgraded so far to have their own right-of-way, and an U-Bahn-like system of tunnels in the city centre.

The system currently consists of three full Stadtbahn route networks, respectively named (with their defining tunnels in brackets): A fourth tunnel, to be used for the D line (Goethestraße – Sallstraße), has been proposed but has not been realised so far due to the high costs of construction, currently estimated to be around €1 billion.

Individual lines operate within the main route networks, diverting to various terminals at the city's edge.

The main hub and transfer point of the network is Kröpcke, a large subterranean station in the city centre.

The current surface D line between Goetheplatz and Aegidientorplatz is regarded as a permanent solution for the mid-term future, although this statement could be argued against, for example when the wye at Steintor was demolished after the tearing down of tram tracks that had been replaced by the C-Nord line, the points were not removed but just welded shut.

Whilst this made some theoretical sense at the A-Nord due to the relatively narrow Podbielskistraße, an extension of the tunnel is completely unneeded on the rather wide Vahrenwalder Straße.

Geographical network map
"D tunnel". Original plans under Sallstraße in dark green, alternative plans from 2000 in light green.