On 31 July 1859, services opened on the 6 km long route that, for the most part, followed the northern bank of the river Main.

From 1 June 1869 passenger services were also operated, including express trains from Frankfurt's western stations to central Germany.

This traffic ended when in 1873 the state-operated Frankfurt–Bebra railway picked up these services on the left bank of the Main.

At that time the Hessian Ludwig Railway ran trains from Frankfurt East station to Limburg along the river Main, where a halt had been built at Fahrtor.

Its importance for the newly developed harbour facilities, industrial estates on the Hanau state highway and Frankfurt's wholesale market, the Grossmarkthalle grew continuously in the period after the Second World War.