It connects the Upper Palatinate district capital of Regensburg via Schwandorf with Weiden in der Oberpfalz.

The line runs east of the Regensburg districts of Konradsiedlung, Wutzlhofen and Haslbach, swings to the northwest and follows the Regen to Regenstauf.

After crossing the Naab and leaving Irrenlohe station, it runs past Schwarzenfeld and meets the remnants of the railway from Schönsee at Stulln.

The main route continues along the right bank of the Naab past Pfreimd, Wernberg-Köblitz and Luhe-Wildenau to Weiden in der Oberpfalz.

The line was opened in several sections by the Bavarian Eastern Railway Company (Bayerischen Ostbahnen) and operated by it until its nationalisation in 1876.

[6] A south to east bypass curve was planned for Schwandorf in 2008 as part of the proposed Danube-Vltava Railway project, which was eventually canceled.

This would have made it unnecessary to reverse trains running between Munich and Prague in Schwandorf station, allowing a reduction in travel times.

Regionalbahn services on the whole line are operated on behalf of the Upper Palatinate district by Vogtlandbahn with Siemens Desiro diesel railcars.