[2] The left-bank railway opened in 1875 and forms part of the Zurich–Chur main line.

It is 61.31 kilometres (38.10 mi) long, standard gauge, double track and electrified at 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC supplied by overhead line.

Prior to this, trains between Zurich and Chur travelled on the Wallisellen to Rapperswil via Uster line.

The parallel line on the opposite bank of Lake Zürich did not open until 1894.

The original Ulmberg rail tunnel is still in use for road traffic, forming the western bore of the Ulmberg road tunnel, but most of the rest of the former route has been obscured by subsequent building.