Deutsche Bundesbahn made a step in this direction in 1969 with increased services on the main lines during peak hours.

In 1971, the then Bundesbahndirektion (railway division, BD) of Nuremberg was granted permission to develop solutions to improve services.

This was included as part of the "first stage” of construction of the Nuremberg S-Bahn adopted on 29 June 1979, as well as in the financial agreement closed on 2 November 1981, which allowed detailed planning to begin.

After the adjacent municipalities and citizens groups expressed opposition to the Reichswald route, the Nuremberg BD examined the plans between 1980 and 1985 on behalf of Deutsche Bundesbahn.

The existing stations of Nürnberg-Gleißhammer, Fischbach (bei Nürnberg) and Feucht were upgraded to have 145 metres (475 ft) long and 92 centimetres (36 in) high platforms and to be barrier-free.

Other construction work related to the area of the eastern exit from Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof, improvements to the interchange with the U-Bahn and Dutzendteich station.

The line continues parallel to Regensburger Straße (B 4), past the Zeppelin Field grandstand, passing Nürnberg Frankenstadion station, and then crosses the tracks of the ring railway towards the marshalling yard.

Passing through the Grundig estate and the industrial area in north Altenfurt, the line reaches Fischbach (bei Nürnberg) station, which is located on the overpass over Löwenberger Straße.

Nürnberg Frankenstadion station has a 272 metres (892 ft) long platform so that it can handle special trains for major events.