Hanover Stadtbahn

The Hanover Stadtbahn is a Stadtbahn (light rail) system in the city of Hanover, Germany that opened in September 1975, gradually replacing the city's tramway network over the course of the following 25 years. As of 2007, it transports 125 million passengers per year. The system is run by Üstra, which was originally the abbreviation for Überlandwerke und Straßenbahnen Hannover AG.

Two types of light rail cars operate on the system, the TW 6000, built from 1974 to 1993, and the TW 2000, built from 1997 to 1999. The system is extensively used, especially during trade shows on the Hanover fairground like CeBIT or the Hannover Messe. It makes up for more than 60% of the GVH transport association's total traffic and has 170 stops as well as 19 stations in tunnels, spanning over four cities, two counties and 115 kilometres of total line length. Hanover Stadtbahn is complemented by DB-owned S-Bahn Hannover, a suburban heavy rail network which links the outlying suburbs and towns, as well as Hanover Airport, to the city centre.