 The first part of the line was built as part of the Mönchengladbach–Stolberg railway, which was built in stages between 1870 and 1875 by the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company () from the current Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof (central station) via Geneicken, Mülfort, Odenkirchen and Hochneukirch and continuing to Jülich, Eschweiler and Stolberg.In 1889, a connection was built from Hochneukirch station, which was located on this line, to the Erft Railway near Grevenbroich station.The direct link from Grevenbroich to Köln-Ehrenfeld station was opened in 1899.