The name Rodgaubahn is derived from the medieval name of Rodgau, part of the former Maingau (Main district), which the line passes through for its whole length.

Since about 1870 there were serious proposals from local interest groups for the building of a railway to open up the Rodgau, but at first the government of the Grand Duchy of Hesse did not respond to them.

But this took four years to get a response from Darmstadt, the capital of the Duchy, during which the committee carried out preparatory work for an Offenbach–Reinheim railway project at its own expense.

On 28 May 1965, the line between Dieburg and Reinheim was closed for passengers, partly because of the operation of the parallel bus route.

Proposed extensions of line S1 to Dieburg and S2 to Ober-Roden failed as they were found not to be economically justified.