This route modified the plans of 1850 by Joseph Anton von Maffei for the Munich-Rosenheim-Salzburg Railway Company (München-Rosenheim-Salzburger-Eisenbahn-Verein) in order to run closer to the Miesbach coalfields.

The line leaves Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to the west along the S-Bahn route.

After Heimeranplatz the line turns away from the South Ring and runs in a southerly direction where it forms the boundary between the districts of Sendling and Sendling-Westpark.

Between the stations of Harras and Mittersendling it connects with the rail link from München-Pasing, which has been running west of the line since Heimeranplatz.

Until the next station at Sauerlach the line runs again in a south-easterly direction through a wooded area and then turns again to the south along the west side of the Hofolding Forest through Otterfing and shortly afterwards reaches Holzkirchen.

Bayerische Oberlandbahn (BOB) services run along the entire length of the line.

BOB trains also run from Munich to Holzkirchen and continuing via the Mangfall Valley Railway to Rosenheim.