The line was opened in three different sections successively between 1864 and 1871 by the private Hessian Ludwig Railway (Hessische Ludwigsbahn, HLB).

[2] Along with the HLB, the line was nationalised on 1 April 1897 and became part of the Prussian-Hessian Railway Operation and Financial Association (German: Preußisch-Hessische Eisenbahnbetriebs- und Finanzgemeinschaft).

This organisation later shared the fate of the Prussian state railways and was absorbed into the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

[3] The additional trains to Monsheim are hauled by class 218 locomotives and continue from Alzey to Mainz.

Following the announcement of the new Southwest diesel network (Dieselnetzes Südwest) from December 2014, LINT rolling stock will be used on this line.