It was the result of continuing efforts at the local level since about 1870 to open up the area south of Offenbach am Main with a railway, but which was only adopted by the Grand Duchy of Hesse very slowly.

So it took until 1888 for the government to finally give its approval and it took another ten years until the first train ran.

A proposed extension of the line to Rödermark-Ober Roden via Rödermark-Urberach failed as it was found not to be economically justified.

The last station is near Spessartviertel (Spessart quarter, formerly called Starkenburgring), an area of high-rise residences.

As a result of some incidents, the ceramic insulators on the catenary masts on the line near the housing were protected with bullet-proof metal plates.