The construction of the Regensburg–Ingolstadt railway was originally carried out primarily for military reasons (for instance, providing a connection to the Landesfestung Ingolstadt—Ingolstadt state fortress).

Between the stations of Sinzing and Gundelshausen an (initially provisional) passing loop was built at the start of the Second World War at the village of Matting.

The decision to make the region around Ingolstadt a centre for the German petrochemical industry was the main factor in giving the railway a renewed importance.

The aim of the competition was an expansion and modernisation of local public transport services on the lines radiating from Regensburg to Landshut, Neumarkt and Plattling as well as the Danube Valley Railway itself.

Since 11 December 2011 there have also been special Agilis express trains on the Danube Valley Railway that connect the three major cities of Regensburg, Ingolstadt and Ulm.

[3] The Danube Valley Railway is also especially important for goods traffic, especially with regard to the oil refineries at Ingolstadt, Vohburg, Münchsmünster and Neustadt an der Donau.