The northern part of the line is in the German state of Hesse and it crosses into Bavaria south of Jossa.

At Flieden it leaves the Kinzig Valley line and runs through the Spessart and Rhön foothills through the closed stations of Elm and Vollmerz, followed by Sterbfritz station, which remains open to passengers, and the abandoned stations of Mottgers and Altengronau Nord before reaching Jossa in the Sinn Valley.

The route mostly follows the Sinn river and runs partly parallel to the Würzburg–Hannover high-speed line.

[2][3] Since 17 June 2008 trains running to the south have used the new tunnel.

Prior to the opening of the Schlüchtern Tunnel in 1914 all trains between Frankfurt and Fulda on the train Kinzig Valley line had to reverse in Elm.