[citation needed] The NME completed the first section between Wrocław and Legnica (Liegnitz) on 19 October 1844 before the full route of the line had been determined.

The continuation of the NME's line through Węgliniec (Kohlfurt), Żary (Sorau) and Guben to Frankfurt an der Oder was completed on 1 September 1846, so that the railway extended from Wrocław to Berlin, a total distance of 357 km.

This formed a continuous rail link from Wrocław via Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Oschersleben, Wolfenbüttel and Brunswick to Hanover.

On 15 May 1875, a 93 km double-track line was opened as a shorter route between Jasień (Gassen) and Legnica (Liegnitz) via Żagań (Sagan).

[5] The Prussian government had acquired shares worth 1.5 million thalers in the NME when it was established, with the right to take it over under certain circumstances.

Because the railway's earnings in 1848/49 fell short of expectations, this clause came into effect and at the instigation of the Prussian Minister of Commerce and Industry, August von der Heydt on 1 January 1850 the government took over the management of the company.

Although results improved quickly, 18 months later the company's directors offered to sell the railway the state.

Ultimately, King Frederick William IV backed the Minister of Commerce on the grounds of the particular economic and military significance of the railway.

In the period up to the 1890s many additional stations were built along the route along with the gradually laying of a second pair of tracks for suburban trains as far as Erkner.

In 1996, Polish State Railways began operating three pairs of passenger trains between Gubinek and Guben again.