The station was given additional significance as a railway hub with the opening of the Munich East–Deisenhofen line in 1898; followed by train connections to Ismaning and Schwabing in 1909, the first to be electrified in 1927.

The station was severely damaged by the bombing of Munich on 24/25 April 1944 and had to be entirely rebuilt after World War II.

Mainly InterCity as well as international EuroCity and Railjet services via Rosenheim to Salzburg and Innsbruck in Austria, to Italy and Southeastern Europe depart from this station.

Several Regional-Express and Regionalbahn services depart from Munich East to many destinations in Chiemgau and southeastern Bavaria.

Trains are operated by the SüdostBayernBahn network of Deutsche Bahn AG as well as by the private railway company (Bayerische Regiobahn.

It continues south to Neuperlach Süd via Innsbrucker Ring and west to Laimer Platz via Max-Weber-Platz, Hauptbahnhof and Theresienwiese.