The first section from Ferrara to Bologna was opened in January 1862, while Pontelagoscuro was reached on 15 April of the same year.

Civil operations started on 1 December 1866,[3] when the war had ended and the Veneto had become part of the Kingdom of Italy.

The whole line was managed by the Società per le Ferrovie dell'Alta Italia (SFAI) until the establishment of the Rete Adriatica in 1885.

On 22 December 1985, a rail crash occurred at Coronella (a village in Poggio Renatico), which caused 10 deaths and injuries to another 11.

The line is equipped with double track, 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge and electrified at 3000 V DC.