Saxony also had no interest in a subsequent railway in the Elster valley, because it did not want any competition with its own lines.

A treaty between the Principality of Reuss Elder Line and the Kingdom of Saxony was signed on 3 November 1863 as the basis for its construction.

Immediately thereafter, construction began on a short connecting line to the Elster Valley Railway.

The last development of the line was the building of a separate track between Neumark and Brunn, which was opened on 19 May 1886.

Passenger services were finally close at the timetable change on 31 May 1997, freight operations were discontinued at the end of 1995.