In relation to the railway line, or more specifically to its routing, significant conflict broke out between neighboring towns in the Golfo Paradiso and Tigullio Occidentale districts.

As the construction of the railway proceeded very slowly, mainly due to the structure of the terrain, the two comuni of Recco and Rapallo decided to make a combined request to the Ministry of Public Works for a change to the routing.

In 1867, there was once again an appeal by the town of Rapallo to divert the route slightly, and this ended up causing the demolition of the chapel of St. Augustine, which was in the way.

On the morning of 31 October 1868, after years of hard work, a steam locomotive embarked on its maiden voyage from San Michele di Pagana railway station to Rapallo.

Further changes occurred to the railway in 1909, at the request of the municipalities of Recco and Rapallo, and prompted by the first train crash in the resort of Santa Margherita Ligure on 23 August of that year.

The changes included a significant expansion of the Rapallo station, making the passenger building larger than its predecessor.