It is operated of DB Netz AG and integrated in the Munich S-Bahn as part of line S 8.

On the heights of the S-Bahn Steinhausen workshop the line turns north and meets the connecting curve to München Trudering station.

With the introduction of S-Bahn services two stations were closed, München Ost Rangierbahnhof (Munich East marshalling yard) and Föhringer Kanal.

In order to link the new Munich Airport in the Erdinger Moos (Erding bog) to the rail network, it was decided to extend the line from Ismaning.

While construction work between Ismaning and the airport started in 1985, the dispute over the location of the line in the town continued.

A large part of the additional costs compared to an above-ground line took was borne by the municipality of Unterföhring.

In the past, there was also freight traffic, consisting mainly of peat, bricks, cabbages and sauerkraut.

To shorten the journey time, an Airport Express service that does not stop at all (or any) intervening stations is under consideration.

Possible solutions are the relocation of part of the track in a tunnel or the construction of road bridges and underpasses in the area.