The section from Lehrte to Hildesheim opened in 1842 and is one of the oldest lines in Germany.

A connecting line was opened on 15 September 1853 from Hildesheim to Nordstemmen station adjacent to the Southern Railway.

The historic route left Lehrte station just after the platforms and went directly south.

The station was handicapped by a level crossing affecting north-south and east-west traffic.

It makes a curve of almost 180 degrees to the west and meets the old route south of Lehrte.

It then goes south across mostly flat terrain through Sehnde, Algermissen and Harsum, where it approached Hildesheim station from the east.