The Berlin–Hamburg line, opened in 1846, was the first railway passing through the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Immediately afterwards Mecklenburg-Schwerin began work on a link from Hagenow to Schwerin, which was opened on 1 May 1847.

After the division of Germany the sea ports of Rostock and Wismar became more important, significantly increasing the role of the line for passenger transport.

At that time, the section south of Bad Kleinen was the busiest line in northern East Germany.

In the summer service about 15 pairs of express trains ran from Schwerin towards Magdeburg.

In addition, since the second half of the 1990s trains run between Rostock and Hamburg via Schwerin, which previously went via Lübeck.

The locomotive depot was taken out of service and now accommodates the Mecklenburg Railway and Technology Museum.