 In 1862 the "Nassau Rhine Railway" ("Nassauische Rheinbahn", now part of the East Rhine line) was opened between Rudesheim and Oberlahnstein, providing a more direct route to Wiesbaden and Frankfurt.To encourage the transport of coal by rail and to compete more effectively with river barges, the Rhine-Nahe Railway and the Nassau State Railway (which now owned the Nassau Rhine line) decided to set up a ferry for freight wagons between Bingerbrück and Rüdesheim.The freight ferry was put into operation on 1 September 1862.