GERMANY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 246

Hannover
Follow the Red Thread
Depart from Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
Distance by Train: 111 miles (178 km)
Average Train Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
City Dialing Code: 0511
Tourist Information Office: Hannover Tourist Service, Ernst-August-Platz 8,
D-30159 Hannover
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
www.hannover-tourism.de
E-mail: [e-mail]
Hours: 0900-1800 Monday-Friday, 1000-1500 Saturday and Sunday between
April and September
Notes: Exit the station and the tourist office is directly opposite the station.
Hannover is known throughout the world as a commercial center dating back al-
most 900 years. Ideally located in the center of Europe, it is well served by rail
and air. As a world leader in hosting international events, Hannover hosted the first
world's exposition ever to be held in Germany—EXPO 2000: Humankind-Nature-
Technology—and unveiled Germany's ICE3 trains.
The history of Hannover is interesting in that it produced the lineage of Britain's
modern royal family. George I of England was born in Hannover, as was his son
and successor, George II. Thoroughly German in tastes and habits, both mon-
archs made frequent trips back to Hannover, where they also ruled under the title
of “Elector.” George III, who presided over the loss of Britain's American colonies,
was the grandson of George II and the first English King George to be born on Brit-
ish soil.
Hannover's rail station, constructed initially between 1876 and 1879, has had
numerous improvements, although it has retained its original 19th-century facade.
Fourteen tracks serve passenger traffic from an elevated platform. A concourse
at ground level connects all the tracks with the main station area. Running under
the main station area and extending under the station's plaza and into the city is a
shopping mall.
The “Red Thread” (the painted red line on the ground) is actually an unusual
walking tour of the city. Follow the red line that runs through the city's sightseeing
points, but do it with a Red Thread booklet that you can pick up at the tourist office