For the construction of the Nazi party rally grounds in the area between Luitpoldhain, Dutzendteich and Langwasser, the connection from the marshalling yard to the Nuremberg–Regensburg line was moved 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) to the southeast in 1938.

A new connection was built from Eichelsberg junction to the Nuremberg–Cheb line with Nürnberg Nordost station through the Sebalder Reichswald (St. Sebaldus Imperial Forest) north of Erlenstegen so that trains from Hersbruck could run directly on to the northern Ring Railway.

In the 1930s, there were plans for passenger traffic on the northern section of the Ring Railway, but these were thwarted by the Second World War.

After the establishment of the Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg (Greater Nuremberg Transport Association) on 27 September 1987, this could be used by normal passengers, but in 1992 it returned to being a staff-only service.

It continues to be used by freight trains from Würzburg, Bamberg, Crailsheim, Augsburg and Regensburg coming to the yard.

Trains only use it if the DMUs used on the Gräfenberg Railway (mostly Class 642—Siemens Desiro Classic; occasionally class 648—Alstom Coradia LINT 41) are reassigned or exchanged and special trains and locomotives of the Franconian Museum Railway are transferred from its operations workshop at Nürnberg Nordost.