As part of the planning for the Stuttgart S-Bahn, capacity was created by shifting the operation of freight trains from sections of the Stuttgart–Würzburg and Stuttgart–Horb railway to the Rankbach line, which was upgraded in the early 1970s.

[2] The section between Maichingen and Böblingen was opened as part of the Stuttgart S-Bahn network on 10 June 2010.

The main work on this section was carried out in 2008 and the track was completely blockaded from the end of March to October 2008.

The third section, known as "Magstadt–Renningen", which also includes duplication,[4] obtained planning approval in late summer 2008, with construction beginning in 2009 so that the line could open at the end of 2010.

Additional activities in relation to the replacement of the level crossings in Magstadt and Renningen (such as land acquisition) meant that Verband Region Stuttgart was obliged to delay the commissioning of the section to late 2011.

[6] Since 14 June 2010 an S-Bahn shuttle service has operated from Monday to Friday at 30-minute intervals from 5:00 to 23:00, using class 420 electrical multiple units.

Since 8 December 2012 operations have been conducted as follows: the additional S 6 services that run during peak hours from Stuttgart to Weil der Stadt are divided in Renningen with part going to Böblingen and the other part to Weil der Stadt.