As a result, the line often describes long curves as it runs through the mixed and pine forests of the greenbelt recreation region and out over the open countryside with good views.

The halts follow, sometimes thick and fast, because even smaller villages are served; the rapid acceleration of the trains employed is largely able to cope with that.

The spa town of Bad Kissingen was given its first link to the railway network on 9 October 1871 in the shape of a 20 kilometre long stub line from Schweinfurt, after attempts to gain approval for a through route from Gemünden (Main) to Meiningen foundered.

After forty years, on 15 April 1924 the gap between Hammelburg and Bad Kissingen was finally closed and the through line taken into service.

The line, now a through route, initially developed an increasing importance; but the car-oriented 1960s led to a significant reduction in timetabled services.

The line is important for tourism both from and into the Spessart and Rhön nature parks and their associated greenbelt recreation areas, as well as for travellers to and from the spa town of Bad Kissingen.

After a short time when old railbuses visited the line, the modern diesel multiple units of DBAG Class 642 became their successors.

Bad Kissingen is served every two hours by DB RegionalExpress trains from Würzburg using tilting Class 612 units.