[2] The line was opened on 17 July 1875 between Winterthur and Etzwilen by the Swiss National Railway (SNB) company.

Since 1902 the line has been part of the network of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).

The principal civil engineering structure on the line is the Thurbrücke Ossingen, a 332 metres (1,089 ft) long and 42 metres (138 ft) high five-span truss bridge over the River Thur.

A 63 metres (207 ft) long two-span prestressed concrete bridge carries the line over the A1 motorway, built in 1967.

Additionally, alternate trains of line S11 provide an hourly service to Seuzach from Zurich.