As a result of the shortage of railway materials during the Second World War, the line between Nuremberg-Laufamholz and Hersbruck was reduced to single track in 1943.

[5] The line leaves Nuremberg station to the east and runs to Pommelsbrunn along the left (southern) bank of the Pegnitz.

Between Hartmannshof and Etzelwang the line climbs steeply to cross the Franconian Jura (a section known as the Kleinen Schiefen Ebene, “small inclined plane”).

Since 1997, the Nuremberg–Amberg section is integrated as Regionalbahn line R4 of the network of the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association (Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg, VGN).

Neukirchen station has facilities for coupling and uncoupling class 610 (Pendolino) and 612 (RegioSwinger) diesel tilting trains.

Twice a day services of the Bayern-Böhmen-Express run on the route from Nuremberg via Schwandorf and Furth im Wald to Prague; it uses the Pegnitz Right line to Hersbruck.

All stations along the route were rebuilt to S-Bahn standard (140 m long with 76 cm high platforms) and provided with barrier-free access.