Due to the difficult topography and the low population density of the Eifel, railways reached it quite late.

At that time it was easier to run railway lines exclusively through river valleys, where bridges and tunnels were rarely necessary.

Early Prussian considerations concerned a route from Cologne and Düren to Schleiden, which, however, was rejected for financial reasons.

As a result of the construction of the Pronsfeld–Waxweiler railway from this route, Gerolstein developed into an important junction station in the Eifel.

On 9 June 2009, the Zweckverband SPNV-Nord (municipal association for rail transport in northern Rhineland-Palatinate) approved the complete reactivation of the Cross Eifel Railway for daily operations, but due to a decision of the municipality of Daun in December 2012 to oppose the revival of the line, this was not implemented as planned for the 2014 timetable change.

However, implementation would be a difficult, as after the closure of the line, it was sold to the affected transport association and converted into a cycle path.

However, its application for an operating license in 2011 was rejected because the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Transport did not consider that the RSE had the financial resources to implement the scheme.

The request was only accepted as a result of an independent opinion and a revised plan was submitted to the Oberlandesgericht Koblenz (one of two regional superior courts of "ordinary" jurisdiction in Rhineland-Palatinate).

These splendid "palaces" (Schlösser) were financed from the money that France had to pay as reparations to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War.

Located in the building are the office of TW Gerolsteiner Land, the Deutsche Bahn travel centre, a bakery and a driving school.

A class 323 (Köf II) locomotive is stationed at the works for the shunting of freight trains that arrive irregularly.