The line first opened on 1 April 1968 as the Marumori Line (丸森線), operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) between Tsukinoki and Marumori.

[1] The original plan was to create a bypass route to relieve overcrowding on the Tōhoku Main Line, but work to extend the line was suspended following the quadrupling of tracks on the Tōhoku Main Line.

[1] Ownership of the line was transferred to the third-sector Abukuma Express operator from 1 July 1986, initially using former JNR KiHa 22 diesel trains.

[1] The entire line was opened and electrified between Tsukino and Fukushima from 1 July 1988.

[1] On 14 February 2021, all services were suspended due to the 2021 Fukushima earthquake.