The section from Satthwa to Kyaukpadaung via Taungdwingyi was opened in 1930.

During the World War II, the line between Taungdwingyi and Kyaukpadaung was removed by Imperial Japanese Armed Forces.

After the independence of Burma, this section was rehabilitated by 1969.

In the 1990s, the military junta began a tourism campaign, and a plan which build a railway connecting between Kyaukpadaung and Myingyan via Nyaung-U (located 8km east of Bagan) was launched at the same time.

On 31 December, 2011, Pakokku Bridge across the Irrawaddy River was opened.