The railway was opened in several stages by the Nederlandsche Rhijnspoorweg-Maatschappij (NRS) between 18 December 1843 and 15 February 1856, with construction starting in 1843.

[2] The line has been heavily reconstructed to increase its capacity between Amsterdam Bijmer Arena and Utrecht Centraal; this began in 1999 and finished in 2008.

The line continues travelling through the countryside and a few towns towards Utrecht, often running parallel to the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal.

On approaching Utrecht Centraal the lines from Rotterdam and Amersfoort join.

7 km (4.3 mi) east of Maarn the line to Rhenen leaves.