The construction of this 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) line began in 1897, when Georgia was still part of the Russian Empire.

The difficult terrain caused construction to take four years, and the first train ran in January 1902.

Porter, imported from America, and passengers travelled in open carriages protected by handrails.

The line was electrified in 1966, when the small steam engine was replaced by an electric "crocodile" locomotive made by the Škoda works in Czechoslovakia.

Although the line was until 1991 also used to transport andesite from a mine near Bakuriani, the Kukushka is now exclusively a passenger service used by tourists and local residents.