It was built by the PLM and opened on 15 September 1864 (as a double track) to provide a link between Grenoble and Montmélian.

[3] In September 1991 it was electrified between Grenoble and Gières and electrification of the whole line was realised and in service by 15 December 2013.

However, as part of the city's preparations for the 1968 Winter Olympics, the route was moved south, next to the Rocade Sud.

In an effort to make the line more profitable, the stations St Hélène du Lac, Le-Cheylas-la-Bussière, Tencin-Theys, Lancey and Domène were all closed to passenger traffic during the 1990s.

Domène station stayed open in order to man the nearby factory slidings although trains do not stop.