The initial plans of 1863 were to build a line from Mülheim am Rhine (now Köln-Mülheim station) to Bergisch Gladbach and on to Wipperfürth.

However, on December 1, 1868 the initial section was completed by the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company to Bergisch Gladbach only.

Since the opening of the new terminal station in central Bergisch Gladbach in the early 1950s, passenger trains have run there.

The passenger service between Bergisch Gladbach and Bensberg was closed on September 29, 1965, which was also the end of operation to the southern station.

Initial attempts to establish a line through the Sülz Valley in 1873 failed, as the ministry rejected the new route.

The project ultimately failed because the Prussian Ministry of Public Works refused to provide the estimated funding required amounting to 830,000 marks.

In 1937, a secret three kilometre branch line was built from near Bensberg station for the transport of ammunition to Ostheim air base.

It was not until 1906 that a standard gauge railway from Immekeppel to Lindlar was approved by the government, so that construction of the line started in 1909 and it was opened in 1912.

Before the First World War, an extension of the line was planned via Hartegasse, Frielingsdorf and Dohrgauler to Wipperfürth.

The line from Bergisch Gladbach station towards Bensberg to the zinc smelter is still open and on weekdays trains operate to the container terminal of Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln (Cologne port and rail freight) on Senefelderstraße.