During its planning, it was at first doubtful whether an agreement to extend the Karlsruhe–Eppingen line to connect with the Württemberg railway network in Heilbronn could be reached.

In 1873 and in 1878/1879 the Baden government sought the input of the surrounding communities in relation to the proposed construction of an Eppingen–Steinsfurt–Neckarbischofsheim line, continuing to Helmstadt or Waibstadt.

The Baden Government accepted an 1879 finding that an Eppingen–Steinsfurt line would improve connections from Kraichgau to Heidelberg and Mannheim, but the proposed Steinsfurt–Helmstadt section would be uneconomical.

The construction costs amounted to around 1.6 million marks, which also included an extension of Sinsheim station, which became the starting point for trains to Eppingen, instead of Steinsfurt.

A Baden parliamentary committee in 1909/10 noted that passengers could use the line to see castles and elaborate station buildings.