The Queensland Government called tenders for construction of the new line in 1886, with the contractor undertaking works "energetically",[3] and despite delays due to the late arrival of bridge beams, the line was unofficially opened on 11 June 1888, with the official opening on 16 June 1888.

The section from Roma St to Bowen Hills was electrified in 1979, to Northgate in 1982, to Petrie in 1983 and to Caboolture in 1986.

All trains run express between Petrie and Bowen Hills, stopping only at Northgate and Eagle Junction.

The typical travel time between Caboolture and Brisbane City is approximately 51 minutes (to Central).

[5] A few services that originate or continue to Gympie North on the Sunshine Coast line skips stations between Caboolture and Bowen Hills stopping only at Petrie and Northgate (45 minutes) During the off-peak, services generally continue to Ipswich railway station on the Ipswich and Rosewood line.