On 1 December 1838 the first section of the first state railway line in Germany opened between Brunswick (German: Braunschweig) and Wolfenbüttel.

In 1841 it was extended through Schladen and Vienenburg to Bad Harzburg (then called Neustadt, "New Town").

In 1856 the Brunswick Southern Railway was opened between Börßum and Kreiensen, creating a connection towards Kassel and Frankfurt.

1866 the Vienenburg–Goslar branch was opened, creating the first rail link to the then Hanoverian town of Goslar.

Today the line is served mainly by regional passenger services, but has some freight traffic.