Planning, building and opening (1860-1873) In 1860 a local committee was established to promote the construction of a railway from Neustadt via Bad Dürkheim to Frankenthal. In particular, the workers in Bad Dürkheim's factories would benefit from the proposed line. Although such a route would run parallel to the
Palatinate Ludwig Railway and the
Mainz–Ludwigshafen railway, the promoters were optimistic that the planned route would be preferred because of its greater scenic appeal. The committee's appeal however, met with little support, as there were fears that it would create difficulties for the
Palatine Ludwig Railway Company. On 22 August 1862, a concession was issued and two months later, the
Neustadt–Dürkheim Railway Company (
Neustadt-Dürkheimer Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft) was founded, which was intended to operate the route. Construction of the line, however, was delayed since the location of the station at Wachenheim was unclear at first. On 21 March 1873, the Monsheim–Grünstadt section was opened. On 20 July 1873, the gap was closed between Bad Dürkheim and Grünstadt. It was decided not to move the station from Bad Durkheim, which for eight years had been end of the line; rather it served from 1873 as a terminal station from both directions. In 1870, the infrastructure of the line was taken over by the Palatine Northern Railway, the Neustadt-Dürkheim Railway Company was dissolved at the same time.
Developments since 1873 In 1909 the Palatine Northern Railway was taken over by the
Royal Bavarian State Railways. After the
First World War the line became part of the
German State Railways. At the end of
World War II the line became part of
Deutsche Bundesbahn. ==Operations ==