The modern route of the Palatine Ludwig Railway was built in 1866/7 from Homburg to St. Ingbert and extended to Saarbrücken in 1879.

On 10 January 1838, a provisional company was formed to build the line from Rheinschanze (renamed Ludwigshafen in 1865) to Bexbach.

From the end of March 1845, the construction of the line was directed by Paul Camille von Denis, at that time one of the leading pioneers of Germany's railways.

It served primarily as a means for transporting Saar coal from the Bexbach area for the Bavarian government to the port and trading centre of Rheinschanze.

In addition, it was agreed to connect Rheinschanze to the Bavarian Rhine district, by means of a branch from the line at Schifferstadt to Speyer.