[1] Today, only the eastern part of the line from Coesfeld/Lutum to Münster (Baumberge railway) as well as a freight track in Bocholt are in use.

The line was opened in 1908 by the Prussian state railways to access the western Münsterland.

Besides some freight traffic, the railway never gained interregional importance.

[2][3] In 1994, traffic between Coesfeld and Lutum was diverted to the track of the decommissioned railway to Rheine, as it was preserved better than the Baumberge railway.

Today, the regional train RB 63 from Münster to Coesfeld via Münster-Mecklenbeck, Münster-Roxel, Havixbeck, Billerbeck, Lutum and Coesfeld Schulzentrum, operated by DB Regio with Talent-railcars, runs once an hour (weekends) or twice an hour (during rush hours).