The line's nickname is the Mori to Mizu to Roman no Tetsudō (森と水とロマンの鉄道, lit.

[citation needed] As of April 2020[update], the following rolling stock is used on the Banetsu West Line.

The private Ganetsu Railway opened the initial section from Kōriyama to Nakayamajuku on July 26, 1898, and extended the line to Aizu-Wakamatsu the following year.

[citation needed] In 1967, JNR electrified the section between Kōriyama and Kitakata at 20 kV AC.

[3] The railway bridge connecting Kitakata and Yamato collapsed due to heavy rain on 4 August 2022.