Ever wondered who keeps Hanover’s Stadtbahn humming? Meet infra Infrastrukturgesellschaft. This company isn’t just about trains. It’s about the very bones of Hanover’s public transport system. Since 2001 infra has been the owner of the city’s entire Stadtbahn network. That includes every track tunnel station and park-and-ride lot.
Imagine a vast underground labyrinth of tunnels. That’s infra’s domain. They maintain over 19 kilometers of underground lines. Above ground another 88 kilometers of track run on special elevated structures. A further 20 kilometers are integrated directly into the city streets. In total that’s an impressive 127 kilometers of Stadtbahn tracks under infra’s care. That’s like traveling from Hanover to Braunschweig just on Stadtbahn tracks owned by infra.
But it’s more than just tracks. Infra also manages 202 stations. Nineteen of these are underground U-Bahn stations. Many more are elevated platforms a standard feature since 1994. Add to that 51 substations that power the entire system. Even the single park-and-ride garage is under their care. They are responsible for maintaining 19 additional park-and-ride facilities.
Infra doesn’t just maintain the existing network. They’re constantly expanding and improving it. They lease their infrastructure to transport companies. Currently the sole user is üstra. Infra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Verkehrs- und Versorgungsgesellschaft Hannover. This company also owns Stadtwerke Hannover and üstra. The city of Hanover and the Hanover region own VVG. Hanover holds the larger share at 80.49 percent.
So next time you glide along Hanover’s Stadtbahn lines remember infra. They are the quiet but essential force ensuring your smooth and reliable journey. They are the unseen engineers the behind-the-scenes architects keeping Hanover connected. They are the backbone of Hanover’s vibrant public transport.